FTX case: SBF seeks access to ADHD medication during trial

• The defense claimed that the lack of access to his prescribed medication has compromised SBF’s ability to focus.
• The attorneys had made attempts to address this issue with prison officials but received no response.

The defense attorneys representing Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of FTX [FTT], have submitted a letter of request to Judge Lewis Kaplan. They have urgently requested access to prescribed medication for their client during his ongoing fraud trial.

The defense claimed that the lack of access to medication has compromised SBF’s ability to focus during the trial.

According to the filing, Bankman-Fried has been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He is prescribed to take Adderall throughout the day.

However, since the trial commenced two weeks ago, he has been permitted to take the drug only once in the early morning before heading to court.

Possible solutions offered by the defense

In the letter addressed to Judge Kaplan, the defense stated,

“Mr. Bankman-Fried has been doing his best to remain focused during the trial for the past two weeks, despite not having his prescribed dose of Adderall during trial hours.”

They further explained,

“However, as we approach the defense case and the critical decision of whether Mr. Bankman-Fried will testify, the defense has a growing concern that because of Mr. Bankman-Fried’s lack of access to Adderall, he has not been able to concentrate at the level he ordinarily would.”

The defense had initially made attempts to address this issue with prison officials but has received no response. The defense has suggested that Bankman-Fried receive an extended 12-hour dose of Adderall on the morning of 18 October.

Nonetheless, they acknowledge that there is no guarantee that prison officials will provide this extended dose. They even expressed their skepticism on whether it will be effective.

The letter requests that if the current proposal doesn’t work, the trial should be adjourned for one day on Tuesday, 17 October, to find a solution that will work for the remainder of the trial. This is either because the extended-release dose is not provided or it fails to have the desired effect.

FTX estate stakes millions in digital assets amidst proceedings

In related news, the FTX bankruptcy estate has reportedly staked a significant amount of digital assets over the weekend. Blockchain addresses connected to the crypto exchange have displayed the staking activity.

According to blockchain data, the estate has staked over 5.5 million Solana [SOL] and over 24,000 Ethereum [ETH]. The staked crypto amounted to $122 million and $30 million respectively.

It is anticipated that the assets will yield annualized returns of 6.79% and 3.4%, respectively.