Overview
- Pasternak, who was arrested Tuesday, pleaded not guilty and was released without bail after prosecutors asked for $30,000.
- A criminal complaint says he squeezed Evelyn Ha’s neck and slammed a door on her, causing throat pain, trouble breathing, and bruising that required medical care.
- His lawyer calls his actions lawful self-defense and his spokeswoman says Ha was the aggressor, while Ha told YouTube viewers she left for her safety.
- Prosecutors say he stayed at the Baccarat Hotel to avoid being served in a federal investor suit, which process servers delivered on April 17 with a court date on June 11.
- Investors Joshua Lee and Pierre Montmeas allege Pasternak’s Believe platform diluted token value and that consumers lost nearly everything, as the criminal case proceeds in Manhattan.