Sam Bankman-Fried , Sentenced to 25 Years , for FTX Fraud.
On March 28, Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to
25 years in prison after being found guilty of defrauding
users of FTX, the now-collapsed cryptocurrency exchange. .
NBC reports that Lower Manhattan federal district
Judge Lewis Kaplan found the defense's arguments
misleading, speculative and logically flawed.
The judge accused Bankman-Fried of committing
obstruction of justice and tampering with
witnesses while mounting his defense.
Kaplan reportedly said that those
factors played a role in his decision
about how to sentence Bankman-Fried.
Prosecutors had originally sought a longer sentence
of 50 years, while the defense fought for
Bankman-Fried to get no more than six and a half years.
Prosecutors had originally sought a longer sentence
of 50 years, while the defense fought for
Bankman-Fried to get no more than six and a half years.
In November, Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven
criminal counts. He has been held at Brooklyn's
Metropolitan Detention Center while awaiting sentencing.
In November, Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven
criminal counts. He has been held at Brooklyn's
Metropolitan Detention Center while awaiting sentencing.
At one time, FTX was valued at over $30 billion
but ultimately collapsed in November of
2022 after announcing a major cash shortfall.
At one time, FTX was valued at over $30 billion
but ultimately collapsed in November of
2022 after announcing a major cash shortfall.
While on trial, Bankman-Fried was accused
of robbing FTX customers of nearly $8 billion,
which was partially used to fund the extravagant
lifestyles of the exchange's executives.
While on trial, Bankman-Fried was accused
of robbing FTX customers of nearly $8 billion,
which was partially used to fund the extravagant
lifestyles of the exchange's executives.
NBC reports that Bankman-Fried's sentence
is harsher than other white-collar crimes
in recent memory, such as Theranos founder
Elizabeth Holmes who received just 11 years.
NBC reports that Bankman-Fried's sentence
is harsher than other white-collar crimes
in recent memory, such as Theranos founder
Elizabeth Holmes who received just 11 years.
The outlet also notes that the judgement is more
similar to the 25-year sentence given to former
WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers or the 24-year
sentence given to Enron CEO Jeff Skilling.
The outlet also notes that the judgement is more
similar to the 25-year sentence given to former
WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers or the 24-year
sentence given to Enron CEO Jeff Skilling
