Photos Of Sam Bankman-Fried Days After Posting Bail Surface Online; Crypto Twitter Not Amused

Photos of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, which were taken days after he was released on a $250M bail, have surfaced online, and crypto Twitter is not amused at all.

Bankman-Fried, more popularly known as SBF in the crypto space, surged in popularity because of his role in the spectacular meltdown of the multi-billion crypto empire FTX. Due to his notoriety, it has become easier for people to recognize him.

Just a few days after his release on a personal recognizance bond, Bankman-Fried was photographed in a John F. Kennedy International Airport lounge. Several images were shared on Twitter by a user who has the handle @litcapital.

In one of the images, Bankman-Fried can be seen sitting in a lounge chair while using a laptop. He is focused on the screen, seemingly reading something. He also has a mobile phone, which is charging on his left.

In another photo, one can see Bankman-Fried using the phone.

According to Crypto Twitter, the photos appear to have been taken at the Greenwich Business Class lounge in the American Airlines Terminal 8.

The source who shared the photos reportedly confirmed that Bankman-Fried was with his parents, lawyers and some Federal Bureau of Investigation agents when the images were taken.

The pictures, which are now making rounds online, did not please the crypto community.

A Twitter user with the handle @lubaibv said, "If this is how folks who cheated and stole money are treated, it will encourage more people to follow the suit."

Another user, @Leftslayer, expressed their disappointment at the U.S. government, noting, "After this year I'm sad to say that I don't trust our government at all. They've proven themselves to be as dirty as you can get. There isn't a prison big enough to hold them all."

Meanwhile, a Twitter user whose username is @thecryptovortex asked, "How is he allowed to have access to a computer?"

The user's tweet was in reference to what Bankman-Fried said in a Dec. 9 tweet in which he claimed, "I still do not have access to much of my data — professional or personal. So there is a limit to what I will be able to say, and I won't be as helpful as I'd like. But as the committee still thinks it would be useful, I am willing to testify on the 13th."

Bankman-Fried is set to appear in court on Jan. 3, 2023, to enter a plea deal and be arraigned.

However, since the judge assigned to his case recused herself, his court appearance may be postponed, as the Justice Department will have to look for a federal judge replacement.