FTX founder facing new bribery charges

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - Federal prosecutors have added bribery to the list of charges against Sam Bankman-Fried.

He's the co-founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

They say Bankman-Fried bribed "one or more" Chinese government officials with $40 million.

Bankman-Fried allegedly tried to pay off the officials in an effort to unfreeze accounts belonging to his hedge fund.

The accounts, which held more than a billion dollars of digital assets, were released after the payment was transferred.

This is the 13th criminal charge against Bankman-Fried.

He is out on a $250 million bond and already pleaded not guilty to eight criminal counts of fraud and conspiracy.

He has not yet been arraigned on five others counts.

A bail hearing is set for Thursday and a spokesman for Bankman-Fried declined to comment.

If convicted on all counts, he could face more than 155 years in prison.

A trial has been scheduled for October.