New details emerge in Ben Pasternak's Baccarat hotel incident as court case continues

Vegan food entrepreneur Ben Pasternak has been charged in New York following an alleged assault involving influencer Evelyn Ha inside a luxury Manhattan hotel, while he separately faces mounting legal pressure in a major cryptocurrency fraud lawsuit.

Pasternak, 26, the founder of plant-based startup Simulate, was arrested after allegations linked to an incident on March 31 at the Baccarat Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Prosecutors claim the encounter escalated after Ha attempted to record him on her phone inside the property.

According to court filings reported by The New York Post, investigators allege the victim suffered physical injuries consistent with a struggle, including neck-related pain and bruising that required medical attention. Pasternak has pleaded not guilty and his legal team denies all wrongdoing, claiming he acted in self-defence.

The entrepreneur is also facing separate civil litigation tied to his cryptocurrency venture Believe, which investors claim lost them significant funds. The lawsuit alleges that token holders suffered major financial losses after purchasing digital assets linked to his platform.

Pasternak had reportedly been staying at the Manhattan hotel while attempting to avoid being served legal papers connected to the crypto case, according to prosecutors cited in court documents. The venture was previously marketed as a high-growth Web3 platform but is now under scrutiny in federal court.

Influencer Evelyn Ha, who has a large social media following, has publicly stated she ended the relationship due to personal safety concerns. Pasternak’s representatives dispute her account and maintain the allegations are inaccurate.

He has been released pending further hearings and is scheduled to return to court in June as both criminal and civil cases continue.