FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal team is requesting uninterrupted access to his prescribed medication while he is in jail. This includes Adderall for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan, Bankman-Fried’s attorney, Mark Cohen, explained that Bankman-Fried has been prescribed Emsam 9mg/24 hrs transdermal patch for depression for over five years, and Adderall 10mg tablets, 3-4 times a day, for ADHD for the past three years.
On Friday, Judge Kaplan granted a request by federal prosecutors to revoke Bankman-Fried’s bail due to alleged witness tampering. He was then remanded to custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). Unless an appeal is successful, Bankman-Fried will remain in custody until his criminal trial, which is set to begin on October 2. Bankman-Fried is facing charges for conspiring to defraud investors and customers in a scheme that resulted in the collapse of FTX and shook the crypto industry. He has pleaded not guilty.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team submitted a letter from his psychiatrist, George Lerner, who has been treating him since February 2019. Lerner confirmed that Bankman-Fried has a history of Major Depressive Disorder and ADHD. Lerner also stated that Bankman-Fried had tried other antidepressants in the past, but they were ineffective for his symptoms. According to Lerner, when Bankman-Fried did not have access to the Emsam patch, he exhibited symptoms of depression. Lerner emphasized that without his medication, Bankman-Fried’s ability to assist in his own defense would be severely impacted.
Bankman-Fried’s lawyers have asked the court to ensure he has continuous access to his prescribed medications as detailed in Dr. Lerner’s letter. They highlighted that Bankman-Fried only brought a limited supply of medication when he was remanded to custody, which would only last a few days.
It’s worth noting that there has been a nationwide shortage of Adderall for almost a year. The FDA has urged drug manufacturers to increase production to meet the demand.
Bankman-Fried was sent to jail after leaking private diary entries of his ex-girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, to the New York Times. Ellison, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in December 2022, is cooperating with the government and expected to be a key witness for the prosecution.
During the ruling on Friday, Judge Kaplan determined that there was probable cause for witness tampering and characterized Bankman-Fried’s actions as an attempt to harm and discredit a witness through the press.
In summary, Bankman-Fried’s legal team is seeking continuous access to his prescribed medication, including Adderall for ADHD, while he is in jail. They argue that without the medication, his ability to assist in his defense would be severely impacted. Bankman-Fried’s bail was revoked after allegations of witness tampering, and he is awaiting his criminal trial.
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