Ethereum

Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky is seeking testimony from six witnesses in his criminal trial as he faces a potential 115-year prison sentence. Mashinsky, arrested last year for allegedly defrauding customers and misleading them about Celsius' profitability, has requested a New York district court to allow testimony from former employees, including the company's CFO and CRO. His lawyers argue that Mashinsky relied on his team and did not intend to harm anyone. The government's current position suggests a sentence of 115 years based on the Sentencing Guidelines. Celsius filed for bankruptcy in 2022, and in July 2023, the SEC sued the firm and Mashinsky for fraudulent activities and manipulating the price of its native token, CEL. Among the witnesses is former CRO Roni Cohen-Pavon, who has pleaded guilty to criminal charges and is said to have ignored Mashinsky's instructions regarding CEL transactions.