by • BitBoy Crypto (Ben Armstrong) openly mocked a federal judge’s authority for ordering him to appear in court for allegedly harassing counsel in a lawsuit.
• Judge Melissa Damian issued a warning that she would issue a warrant for the YouTuber’s arrest if he failed to appear by April 24.
• Armstrong offered through counsel to appear before the judge in May and was barred from tweeting about Moskowitz and the plaintiffs in the case.
BitBoy Crypto Mocks Federal Judge
YouTuber Ben Armstrong, also known as “BitBoy Crypto,” openly mocked a federal judge’s authority, tweeting pictures of himself on a beach during an ordered court appearance.
Judge’s Warning
Judge Melissa Damian had ordered Armstrong and his counsel to address alleged harassment towards plaintiffs’ counsel. She warned him that she would issue a warrant for his arrest if he failed to appear by April 24.
Lawsuit Details
Individuals affected by the collapse of FTX filed a class-action lawsuit against Armstrong and several other YouTubers in March for allegedly promoting fraud through the exchange without disclosing compensation. Lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, Moskowitz, claimed that Armstrong harassed them with “endless phone calls, tweets and emails,” voicemails “full of vulgarities,” and posts suggesting threats.
Armstrong’s Offer
Amid court proceedings on April 20, he said that he was “not flying by the seat of [his] pants,” hinting that his absence from court may have been with the advice of counsel. He offered through counsel to appear before the judge in May.
Final Order
As part of the judge’s order on April 20, Armstrong will be barred from tweeting about Moskowitz and the plaintiffs in the case.
