A Former Prosecutor Believes Sam Bankman-Fried May Receive a 25-Year Prison Sentence
A former prosecutor from the U.S. Justice Department’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Section predicts that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX crypto exchange, may only receive a 25-year prison sentence. Bankman-Fried was recently found guilty of seven criminal charges related to the collapse of FTX, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Although Bankman-Fried faces a maximum sentence of 115 years in prison, legal experts believe his actual sentence will be shorter. Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, suggests that Judge Lewis Kaplan is unlikely to be lenient during the sentencing and predicts that Bankman-Fried may spend the next two or three decades behind bars.
Mariotti highlights the scale of Bankman-Fried’s crimes and his behavior during the trial as factors that will contribute to a lengthy sentence. He mentions that Judge Kaplan has little patience for Bankman-Fried’s antics while out on bail and is more sympathetic towards the victims.
Judge Kaplan is Unlikely to Be Lenient
During the trial, Bankman-Fried was accused of immense fraud and was defiant while testifying on the witness stand. In August, Judge Kaplan revoked his $250 million bail due to violations such as contacting potential witnesses against him. These actions further contribute to the belief that Bankman-Fried will receive a substantial prison sentence.
Hot Take: Sam Bankman-Fried Faces Decades Behind Bars
Legal experts predict that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX crypto exchange, may receive a prison sentence of around 25 years for his involvement in various criminal activities related to the collapse of FTX. Despite facing a maximum sentence of 115 years, a former prosecutor believes that Bankman-Fried’s behavior during the trial and the scale of his crimes will result in a lengthy prison term. Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the case, is not expected to be lenient when imposing the sentence. Bankman-Fried’s defiance and lies during the trial, as well as violations while out on bail, contribute to the belief that he will spend several decades behind bars.