
- CZ might not be allowed to travel to the UAE after his plea deal.
- The DOJ asserted his flight risk in the latest court filing.
- Earlier, Judge Tsuchida cast doubt on whether CZ is a flight risk.
Despite agreeing to a $50 million fine as part of a guilty plea deal and a $175 million personal recognizance bond to secure his release from custody, Binance ex-CEO Changpeng โCZโ Zhao is still tormented by his legal woes in the U.S.
While ruling on CZโs bond terms on November 21, Magistrate Judge Brian A. Tsuchida allowed the embattled former CEO to travel to the UAE, noting that he wouldnโt have entered a plea in person if he carried the risk of escaping. Notably, CZ wasnโt obliged to appear in court in person on that day.
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But the Department of Justice (DOJ) doesnโt buy this.
CZ Shouldnโt Travel to the UAE Before Sentencing
In a filing dated November 22, federal prosecutors submitted that CZ should be required to stay in the U.S. between his plea and sentencing, arguing that the defendant couldnโt prove that he wouldn’t flee once allowed to return to the UAE.
Specifically, the prosecutors stated that CZ had โsubstantial connectionsโ to the UAE, which led him to obtain his citizenship to the country โthrough extraordinary circumstances.โ
According to the prosecutors, this โfavored positionโ indicated that the UAE government would likely not accede to a U.S. government request to expel Zhao to the country for sentencing should he choose not to return as agreed.
While acknowledging the U.S. has no extradition treaty with the UAE, prosecutors submitted further grounds supporting the motion to ground CZ in the U.S., including strong family ties and a financial war chest.
CZโs Strong Family Ties and Financial Muscle
The prosecution averred that CZ wouldnโt leave his family to travel to the U.S. and face a possible prison sentence.
โAs Zhao explained during the hearing, he has three young children and a partner in the UAE; once in the UAE and faced with the prospect of traveling back to the United States to face up to 18 months in prison, he may elect to instead simply stay in the UAE with his family.โ The prosecution argued.
The DOJ also expressed concerns about CZโs โsignificant bail package,โ arguing that it was inadequate to ensure his return, given that most of the assets tied to the bond were beyond the governmentโs reach.
Further, the prosecution stated that CZ is a multibillionaire who could stand to lose over $20 million to compensate his guarantors and โlive comfortably for the rest of his life in the UAEโ should he choose to skip sentencing.
Read more about the Binance-DOJ settlement and CZโs resignation:
Hereโs What Binanceโs $4B Settlement and CZโs Resignation Means
Stay updated on how the market reacted to Binance enforcement:
Market Conflicted as CZ Quits and Binance Settles with DOJ