As per a ruling by a New York court, the former CEO of Celsius, Alex Mashinsky, will continue to enjoy his liberty on a bail amounting to $40 million throughout the course of legal proceedings. A criminal trial has been scheduled for Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO of Celsius Network, by a New York court, and it is set to commence on September 17, 2024. During an October 3rd hearing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge John Koeltl officially announced the date of Mashinsky’s criminal trial, which will take place in September 2024. Three pretrial conferences have also been scheduled for March, July, and September. It’s important to note that despite the legal proceedings, the former CEO of Celsius will retain his freedom under a bail of $40 million, although certain restrictions remain in place, affecting his ability to travel and conduct specific financial transactions.
This hearing represents some of the earliest developments in Alex Mashinsky’s criminal case since his arrest in July. Authorities have leveled allegations against the former CEO, accusing him of misleading Celsius investors and defrauding users of substantial sums, reaching into the billions. In September, the court took decisive action by freezing many of Mashinsky’s assets, including his bank accounts and property. On a related note, Roni Cohen-Pavon, the former chief revenue officer of Celsius, entered a guilty plea to four criminal charges in September. He will be permitted to remain on bail until his sentencing hearing in December and may be called upon to testify in Mashinsky’s trial if deemed necessary.
The onset of October ushered in the commencement of several prominent court cases within and beyond the cryptocurrency sector. Jury selection for the criminal trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried commenced on October 3rd, and former U.S. President Donald Trump now faces a civil fraud lawsuit, centering on his business practices.
Celsius Network filed for bankruptcy in July 2022, and Mashinsky relinquished his role as CEO in September of the same year. While the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission announced settlements against Celsius in July, cases against Mashinsky remain pending, with regulatory bodies like the Federal Trade Commission also pursuing legal action.
