US Prosecutors Request Tighter Bail Conditions for Former Binance CEO CZ
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked the court to tighten the bond conditions for Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the former CEO of Binance. This comes ahead of CZ’s criminal sentencing for violating anti-money laundering (AML) laws. The prosecutors are seeking new bond conditions that align with Judge Richard Jones’ December order, which requires CZ to stay in the continental US until sentencing and denies his requests to travel to his family in the UAE. The DOJ argues that the bond conditions should be revised to reflect these orders and further restrict CZ’s movements.
New Proposed Bond Conditions
The DOJ prosecutors have proposed new special conditions for CZ’s bail:
- CZ must remain in the continental US until his sentence is imposed.
- He must inform Pretrial Services and the government of any travel within the US at least three days in advance.
- CZ must surrender his Canadian passport and any other current or expired passports and travel documents to his counsel-supervised third party.
- He cannot change his place of residence without prior approval from authorities.
CZ’s lawyers have objected to these proposed bond conditions, according to a filing submitted to the court.
DOJ Seeking Lengthy Criminal Sentence
In light of recent developments, including CZ’s criminal sentencing being postponed until the end of April, it is clear that the DOJ is aiming for a substantial prison term for him. While CZ currently faces an 18-month prison term for AML rule violations, prosecutors are pushing for a longer sentence.
The court has also granted a protective order requested by prosecutors. This order covers sensitive information related to the lawsuit, such as witness interviews, third-party financial records, and third-party internal business records.
Additionally, Judge Jones has approved Binance’s $4.3 billion plea deal, which includes a $1.81 billion criminal fine and $2.51 billion in forfeiture.
Hot Take: DOJ Seeks Stricter Bail Conditions for CZ
The US Department of Justice is taking further steps to tighten the bond conditions of Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, as he awaits his criminal sentencing. With the aim of ensuring CZ remains within the continental US and under Pretrial Services supervision, the DOJ has proposed new special conditions that restrict his travel and require him to surrender his passports. However, CZ’s legal team has objected to these conditions.
It is evident that the DOJ is seeking a significant prison sentence for CZ, as demonstrated by the postponement of his sentencing and their push for more stringent bail conditions. The court’s approval of Binance’s plea deal further emphasizes the severity of the situation. It remains to be seen how these legal proceedings will unfold and what consequences they will have for CZ and Binance.
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