Nishad Singh, the former head of engineering at the collapsed exchange FTX, met with the US federal prosecutors seeking a cooperation deal, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter.
This makes Singh the third member of Sam Bankman-Fried’s inner circle to seek leniency in the fraud case over the FTX collapse. Two of Sam Bankman-Fried's closest former allies—Alameda Research ex-CEO Caroline Ellison and FTX co-founder Gary Wang—have already pleaded guilty to fraud charges and are currently cooperating with the Southern District of New York.
Singh, who has so far not been accused of any wrongdoings, reportedly met the prosecutors in a proffer session in the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office last week.
Though a proffer session often includes an offer of limited immunity to encourage the interviewee to speak freely, it doesn’t automatically lead to a cooperation agreement, with prosecutors first seeking to weigh the value of shared information.
Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang Plead Guilty, Cooperating in FTX Investigation
Two of Sam Bankman-Fried's closest former allies have flipped on him. Attorneys with the Southern District of New York announced Wednesday night that it had filed charges against FTX co-founder Gary Wang and the ex-CEO of Alameda Research, Caroline Ellison, securing their cooperation in their investigation into the spectacular collapse of FTX. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission separately announced that it was also charging the pair “for their roles in a multiyear scheme to defrau...
Singh, Bankman-Fried’s former roommate in the Bahamas and a significant donor for Democrats’ election campaigns himself, could reportedly provide insight into the campaign finances of FTX.
Since 2020, he has donated over $9.3 million to Democratic candidates and committees, with the largest recipient being Mind The Gap, a political action committee founded by SBF’s mother, Barbara Fried, which last year received a $1 million donation.
According to bankruptcy court documents, Singh also received $543 million in loans from Alameda Research.
FTX seeks the return of political donations
In the months preceding the collapse of FTX, Bankman-Fried made an estimated $46.5 million in political donations. According to a public spreadsheet shared by OpenSecrets.org, a nonprofit that tracks U.S. campaign finance and lobbying, a significant portion of those donations has gone to Democratic candidates.
Additionally, FTX gave over $41 million to various political action committees. These organizations can accept unlimited individual and corporate contributions, however, must remain formally separate from campaigns as they run ads or sponsor other communications supporting or opposing candidates.
FTX Now Seeking 'Prompt Return' of Sam Bankman-Fried's Political Donations
The team overseeing FTX's bankruptcy proceedings has warned that donations made by former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried or other executives should be returned. Since the exchange filed for bankruptcy in November, FTX's operations are now overseen by its new CEO John J. Ray III. FTX said the exchange had already “been approached by a number of recipients of contributions or other payments” made by or at the direction of Sam Bankman-Fried or other officers. “These recipients have requested directions for...
Last month, FTX’s new management team, helmed by its new CEO John J. Ray III, initiated the process of returning political donations made by the exchange and its former officers.
FTX also warned that if political contributions are not returned voluntarily, the exchange will turn to the Bankruptcy Court to require the return of such payments.
