Following the arrest of the former FTX boss Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), spectators continue to wonder where ex-Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison is, and whether or not she turned on SBF. A few reports suggest Ellison is âlikely working with fedsâ and itâs possibly the reason why Ellison was reportedly spotted at the Ground Support cafe in Soho.
Did Caroline Rat on SBF? No Oneâs Heard a Peep From the Mysterious Ex-Alameda Executive Since FTX CollapsedA great deal of crypto supporters and the media have been wondering where Caroline Ellison, the former Alameda Research CEO, is currently located. After FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), galavanted on a media tour with the likes of the New York Timesâ Dealbook event and his appearance on Good Morning America. Then over a month after FTX collapsed, SBF was arrested in The Bahamas and indicted by a federal grand jury in Manhattan, charged with fraud by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Meanwhile, there hasnât been a peep from Ellison. On Wednesday the public was made aware that FTX co-CEO Ryan Salame allegedly turned on SBF on Nov. 9, two days before the FTX bankruptcy filing. Reportedly, Salame told Bahamian authorities that SBF sent customer funds to the firm Alameda Research. The only thing that the public knows about Ellison is that she allegedly is now represented by the Former SEC Enforcement Division Chief Stephanie Avakian, and the legal team from Wilmerhale. Since SBFâs arrest, a few reports suggest Ellison has snitched on SBF as well.
For instance, the New York Post authors Ben Feuerherd and Bruce Golding published an article on Dec. 14 that says: âCaroline Ellison likely working with feds against Sam Bankman-Fried.â The New York Post details that experts say the âhellhole Bahamas prisonâ may make SBF drop his extradition fight. The report details the jail SBF resides in is filthy and âmaggot-infestedâ and allegedly SBFâs family has been trying to get him vegan foods. In regard to Ellison, the Post spoke with former SEC attorney Howard Fischer, who said Ellison had a strong incentive to work with law enforcement.
âShe would have among the greatest incentives to cooperate, as it was seeming likely that in his effort to exculpate himself, Bankman-Fried would try to finger her,â Fischer told the Post. âThe speed of the indictment and the breadth of the chargesâ meant that âsomeone relatively senior is cooperating with the federal authorities in exchange for leniency for their own potential misconduct,â Fischer added. The former SEC lawyer continued:
It is possible Bankman-Friedâs publicity tour, in which he repeatedly disclaimed either knowledge of â or responsibility for â mishandling or theft of customer assets, spurred senior officers to fear that he would specifically blame them.
SDNY Prosecutor Urges Senior FTX and Alameda Execs to Come Forward â Ellisonâs Neighbor Hasnât Seen Caroline âSince Around ThanksgivingâThe New York Post is not the only publication assuming that Ellison may have ratted on SBF. Gawker.com writes that she âis widely believed to be working with American law enforcement in their case against Bankman-Fried.â The publication published two reports on the subject and discussed it at length in a post called âDid Caroline Ellison Snitch?â The author explains that Ellison could snitch to Gawker personally âgirl to girlsâ by reaching out to the publicationâs tip email.
Moreover, the Southern District of New York (SDNY) prosecutorâs office attorney Damian Williams mentioned that someone came forward in his statements to the press. âTo anyone who participated in wrongdoing at FTX or Alameda Research and who has not yet come forward, I would strongly encourage you to come see us before we come to you,â Williams stressed. Williams also disclosed that he was ânot at liberty to say whoâs come inâ so far.
The so-called mathlete Ellison who had zero issues talking about her âregular amphetamine useâ on social media, has continued to remain silent since her last tweets. Reporters from the Post also visited Ellisonâs parentsâ home and the duo said they were âtoo busyâ to chat with the press. Sara Fischer Ellison and her husband, Glenn Ellison, are both economists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). âI havenât seen [Caroline] since around Thanksgiving,â a neighbor of the Ellisons told the New York Post. If Ellison is working with American law enforcement, itâs possible she was allowed to visit her parents during the holiday.
What do you think about the reports that suggest Caroline Ellison may have turned on SBF? Why do you think the ex-Alameda CEO has continued to remain silent? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.