Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, has spotted ordering a coffee at the Ground Support Cafe in Manhattan.
It has been reported that her two photos began circulating on Twitter and by adding some weight to the possible sighting, Gopher, the Golden Doodle puppy, which is understood to be owned by FTX and Alameda execs, also seem to be in the photo next to Ellison.
However, Ellison’s last speculated location was Hong Kong, which was suggested in the aftermath of the FTX and Alameda implosion. At the time, a source said that she was looking to flee to Dubai. Twitter user and self-described “citizen journalist” Autism Capital appears to be the first to share the photos, which are understood to have been sent in by an unnamed user.
They wrote:
“A user claims that they spotted Caroline Ellison at Ground Support Coffee on West Broad in SoHo Manhattan at 8:15 AM [UTC]. This would mean she is not in Hong Kong and is in NY not in custody.”
The report said that in response, a man going by Daniel Mentado, claiming to work at the cafe, “confirmed” that it was Ellison and that one of his staff members served her. Some members of the community are surprised that Ellison is on US soil, given the possible legal ramifications, while others have speculated that Ellison could be looking to cut a deal with authorities.
Likewise, the coffee shop in question is only a short walk away from the US Attorney’s Office and the New York FBI office, some have pointed out. It is worth stressing, however, that 100% concrete proof that this Ellison in the photo has yet to surface. Some crypto community members have even attempted to find answers in person without any success.
Thus, meanwhile, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been on a media tour painting his side of events by denying any intentional foul play and laying the blame on Alameda’s leadership. Notably, Bankman-Fried tweeted a few hours after the supposed Ellison sighting that he plans to testify at a hearing held by the House Committee on Financial Services at some stage, but not until he has “finished learning and reviewing what happened.”
Source: Cointelegraph