Investor who lost $1.5million in the fallout of FTX crash looks Sam Bankman-Fried in the eye

Distraught investor Rebecca Gallagher, who lost $1.5million in the fallout of the FTX crash, looked Sam Bankman-Fried in the eye in court Monday and said: 'It was vindicating.'

The British-born grandmother, who now lives in rural Tennessee, told DailyMail.com: 'I've pretty much lost everything and at my time of life it's nearly impossible to recover.'

Gallagher, 61, added after the confusing court hearing where Bankman-Fried was not extradited to the United States as expected: 'He thought he was getting straight to the airport to get on a plane.

'I'm delighted he didn't. I want him here in the Bahamas to suffer with the rats in that jail. And I want him to stay there.'

British-born grandmother Rebecca Gallagher lost $1.5million in the fallout of the Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX crash. On Monday she looked SBF in the eye in court and said it was 'vindicating'

SBF shuffled into court in a blue suit and clenched his hands nervously

A fence topped with barbed wire surrounds the Magistrate Court building, where the FTX founder appeared for an extradition hearing

But Gallagher's wish does not appear to be coming true. After the court appearance his lawyer said Bankman-Fried had now agreed to return to the United States voluntarily.

Gallagher, who downsized to the small town of Dickson after selling her California home in 2021, plunged $750,000 into crypto currency as part of the proceeds.

That doubled to $1.5million before crashing to nothing after FTX imploded.

The grandmother flew to the Bahamas last week to seek vengeance and recourse against Bankman-Fried.

She said she has tried to file a criminal complaint with the financial crimes unit of the Royal Bahamas Police in order to keep SBF in the country – but was meeting resistance.

Gallagher, who has live in the United States since 2004, alleged Bankman-Fried deliberately tried to crash other currency platforms.

'He's a bad player,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I was heavily invested in Celsius which crashed as a result of FTX actions. He did it deliberately. He manipulated their tokens and he has done this to a lot of projects.

'I wanted to put my eyes on him.' 

Bankman-Fried headed back to jail in the Bahamas after a baffling and inconclusive court appearance over his reported bid for extradition to the United States, but his stay n notorious Fox Hill prison seems to be coming to an end.

His attorney in the island chain Jerone Roberts said his client had agreed to be extradited to face the music in a New York federal courtroom.

Roberts told local media outlet Eyewitness News that his legal team was preparing the legal documents – adding he hoped SBF would go back to court this week.  

'We as counsel will prepare the necessary documents to trigger the court,,' Roberts said.

'Mr. Bankman-Fried wishes to put the customers right, and that is what has driven his decision.'

That turnaround came after Gallagher witnessed a farcical court hearing in the Bahamian capital Nassau.

FTX's co-founder had nervously shuffled into court four of the imposing magistrates building for what was billed as a hearing to clear his route to America.

But the court quickly descended into confusion as prosecutors, attorney Roberts and even the presiding magistrate questioned why they were all there.

The mop-haired mogul, sitting in the front row with his head bowed low and his right foot tapping feverishly in his trademark mannerism, listened as Roberts told the court: 'I am not sure what Mr. Bankman-Fried is doing here this morning.'

After SBF had been whisked back to the rat-infested island jail, his local attorney reportedly said his client had agreed to be extradited

Gallagher said, 'I want him here in the Bahamas to suffer with the rats in that jail. And I want him to stay there' 

Magistrate Shakaa Serbille said, 'I was expecting to see Mr. Bankman-Fried here on February 8' – referring to when the accused guru is expected back in court after being denied bail and sent to Nassau's notorious Fox Hill prison.

He did add though that he understood SBF, as he likes to be known, was involved in moves regarding extradition but 'more information' was required and then there should be instructions from Bankman-Fried himself.

Roberts later told the court that SBF would want to see the details of any extradition paperwork before agreeing to it. 

Prosecutor Franklyn Williams gave a clue to the confusion when he said: 'A representation was made to ourselves on Saturday by counsel, not the counsel in court today, on behalf of Sam Bankman-Fried.'

It is understood this might have been from SBF's high-powered legal team in New York, led by attorney Mark Cohen.

Fox Hill prison where Bankman-Fried is being detained. A prison official said the cells are 'roughly 8ft by 10ft. Some have bathroom facilities, but many do not'

After more legal argument and a recess, the magistrate decided to adjourn the hearing and allow Bankman-Fried to speak with his New York lawyers to clear up any misunderstanding.

He ruled the call should be under strictly supervised conditions including it being on speakerphone.

As he was officially remanded again, Bankman-Fried was ordered to stand. However at one point he slouched and a court official shouted for him to be up straight and put his arms by his side.

The disgraced former whizz-kid – who by that point had discarded his jacket in the stifling courtroom – complied briefly. But he then slumped again, nervously flexing his hands. He answered 'yes' four times as the magistrates explained what was happening.

The normally disheveled financial guru was in the same blue suit and white shirt he was wearing during his first court appearance last week following his dramatic arrest.

SBF constantly tapped his right foot nervously before Magistrate Serbille arrived.

He also clenched and unclenched his hands nervously while still tapping his right foot – which it has been reported is a trademark mannerism of his.