BitBoy Crypto, a prominent YouTuber, faces a court appearance over allegations of harassing lawyers in a $1-billion lawsuit.
BitBoy Crypto, a popular YouTuber whose real name is Ben Armstrong, has been ordered by a federal magistrate judge to appear in a Florida court to address accusations of harassing and threatening lawyers involved in a class-action lawsuit against him and other cryptocurrency influencers. Judge Melissa Damian of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida recently issued the order, instructing Armstrong and his legal team to attend a status conference on April 20th with the lawyers representing the crypto influencers.
The primary purpose of the conference is to examine Armstrong’s alleged harassment towards the plaintiffs’ legal counsel. Armstrong is among several YouTubers named in a $1-billion lawsuit, filed on March 15th. The lawsuit accuses them of promoting FTX crypto fraud without revealing their financial gains. Adam Moskowitz, the lawyer representing Edwin Garrison and other participants in the class-action lawsuit, maintains that Armstrong subjected his legal team to a barrage of phone calls, tweets, and emails, as well as voicemails laced with obscenities and social media posts hinting at threats.
BitBoy Crypto Accused of Violent Threats and Harassment
In an April 5th filing that sought a hearing with Armstrong, the legal team documented the YouTuber’s “daily violent threats,” as well as his hostile and offensive email responses before receiving the process papers. Furthermore, the legal team disclosed in a March 20th filing that one of Armstrong’s voicemails allegedly threatened to have protesters surround Moskowitz’s home around the clock.
In response to the relentless nature of the attacks, including death threats, Moskowitz initiated an FBI investigation into Armstrong’s actions, in addition to investigations by local police authorities to protect the plaintiffs’ counsel and their families. Armstrong’s threats have reportedly continued daily since the lawsuit’s filing.
BitBoy Denies Lawsuit’s Validity and Has a History of Online Disputes
Armstrong used Twitter to argue that the original lawsuit concerning the non-disclosure of compensation from FTX lacked any legal grounds. The cryptocurrency influencer commonly engages in online controversies, regularly insulting high-profile individuals such as European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and largely dismissing the class-action lawsuit.
In August 2022, Armstrong pursued a defamation case against YouTuber Erling Mengshoel Jr., also known as Atozy, in retaliation for a video Mengshoel posted claiming that BitBoy Crypto defrauded his followers. Armstrong withdrew the lawsuit after Mengshoel rapidly raised over $200,000 to fund his defense.
Implications for Crypto Influencers as Legal Proceedings Unfold
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains uncertain how the court will address the allegations against BitBoy Crypto and the other implicated influencers. The upcoming status conference on April 20th seeks to shed light on Armstrong’s purported harassment of the plaintiffs’ counsel and evaluate the lawsuit’s merits. The results of these proceedings may have far-reaching consequences for the credibility and reputation of cryptocurrency influencers in the rapidly expanding digital currency sector.
In conclusion, the ongoing legal battle involving BitBoy Crypto and other cryptocurrency influencers highlights the importance of transparency and ethical practices within the influencer community. Hence, the outcome of this case could serve as a precedent for future disputes involving influencer marketing and disclosure in the digital currency industry.