BitMEX co-founder Benjamin Delo received 30 months probation without home confinement for Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) violations.
The sentencing closes a legal chapter that began in the fall of 2020, when the US accused Delo and co-founders Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed of “evading US anti-money laundering requirements” in activities related to their crypto exchange, BitMEX. Both Hayes and Delo went on to plead guilty to one count each of violating the BSA, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.
Hayes evaded jail time, but received six months home detention as part of a two-year probationary period. Hayes will be permitted to travel to his home in Singapore for the remainder of his probation once the six-month home detention sentence is served in the US.
At today’s hearing, Judge John G. Koeltl sentenced Delo to 30 months probation without home confinement. The sentencing resolves all of Delo’s regulatory cases relating to BitMEX.
“Ben is pleased to finally draw a line under this matter and looks forward to returning his focus, time, and energy to his philanthropic work,” said a spokesperson from Smith Villazor, representing Delo.
Ahead of his sentencing, his legal team submitted a letter requesting a probationary sentence to be served in Hong Kong, where Delo resides, with no fine or jail time. Both Hayes and Delo have already paid $10 million each in civil monetary penalties to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as part of a parallel civil action against them.
どちらの場合も、検察は、執行されたものよりも厳しい判決を求めました。 ヘイズの場合、DOJは、ヘイズのチームが推奨している6〜12か月以上の懲役を要求しました。要求された保護観察のみ。 デロの場合、共同創設者の判決の間には同等性があるべきであると主張し、デロにヘイズと同じ判決を受け取るよう求めた：米国での2年間の保護観察と6か月の自宅軟禁。 裁判官は最終的には同意せず、自宅軟禁を判決に含めることを拒否した。
デロを代表するスミス・ビジャゾールのスポークスマンは、「裁判所が、この事件における銀行秘密法の容疑の深刻さを誇張するという政府の冷笑的な試みを適切に拒否したことを嬉しく思う」と述べた。 「本日の保護観察判決は、この訴訟が規制違反につながるコンプライアンスの失効を伴うことを認めたものであり、それ以上のものではありません。」
