Whereas they’ve managed to reach having Chandler flip over his acquired bitcoin, the FTC’s contempt movement has been denied.
The FTC’s present trigger contempt movement stemmed from Chandler initially refusing to show over his bitcoin, as required by a beforehand granted preliminary injunction.
Chandler had argued the injunction would dimension bitcoin he’d legitimately obtained, however was struck down again in October.
Proof Chandler tried to submit (however was denied upon objection by the FTC), suggests he’d bought round $30,000 in bitcoin.
For some cause Chandler additionally tried to submit a “record of mates who misplaced cash”, however that was objected to and denied as nicely.
Comparatively the FTC submitted 4 cellphone messages and what seems to be an e-mail dialog, all of which have been admitted.
As per a quick November sixteenth order, following a two-day listening to on the FTC’s contempt movement, the court docket discovered ‘the proof didn’t set up that Mr. Chandler deliberately violated the Preliminary Injunction Order‘.
The essential distinction lies in intent.
Clearly Chandler violated the injunction by not turning over his bitcoin. Proof offered by the FTC nonetheless didn’t persuade the court docket this violation was intentional, i.e. for the aim of violating the injunction in and of itself.
The ruling wasn’t an entire loss for the FTC although. The court docket additionally directed Chandler to supply the FTC with entry to his Skype, WhatsApp and Fb Messenger accounts.