Sam Bankman-Fried, the former billionaire prodigy behind the now-defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange, received a 25-year prison sentence from US District Judge Lewis Kaplan on 28 March 2024.

This marked the culmination of his dramatic downfall, which saw accusations of embezzling US$8 billion (S$10.8 billion) from FTX customers.

Despite Bankman-Fried’s denial that the customers did not lose money, the judge deemed his trial testimony dishonest.

A jury convicted the 32-year-old on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy on 2 November 2023, in connection with FTX’s collapse in 2022, which is deemed by prosecutors as one of the largest financial frauds in US history.

Who Exactly is Sam Bankman-Fried?

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bankman-Fried experienced a meteoric rise in wealth, reaching a net worth of $26 billion before the age of 30, fueled by the surging values of Bitcoin and other digital assets, according to Forbes Magazine.

Recognized for his distinctive mop of curly hair and dedication to the effective altruism movement, Bankman-Fried became known for advocating for talented individuals to amass wealth and donating it to impactful causes.

Prior to the 2022 US midterm elections, he emerged as a significant donor to Democratic candidates and initiatives. However, evidence presented during the trial revealed that Bankman-Fried also funneled contributions to Republicans using “straw” donors to conceal his involvement, as noted by Judge Kaplan.

Bankman-Fried Showed No Remorse

Judge Kaplan dismissed Bankman-Fried’s attempts to portray himself as a “good guy,” labeling it as an act driven by the pursuit of power and influence.

During the proceedings, Judge Kaplan remarked that Bankman-Fried displayed no remorse or guilt, stating, “He knew it was wrong; he knew it was criminal.”

Despite acknowledging the harm suffered by FTX customers, Bankman-Fried offered apologies to former colleagues without admitting criminal culpability during his 20-minute statement to the judge. 

Following the judge’s pronouncement, Bankman-Fried, attired in a beige jail T-shirt, conversed briefly with his defense attorney, Marc Mukasey, before being escorted out of the courtroom by personnel from the United States Marshals Service.

Although sentenced, Bankman-Fried plans to contest both the conviction and the sentence.

The sentencing represented the apex of Bankman-Fried’s fall from grace, transitioning from an immensely wealthy entrepreneur and influential political contributor to the most significant trophy thus far in the US government’s crackdown on misconduct within cryptocurrency markets.

US Attorney-General Merrick Garland emphasized the severe repercussions for defrauding customers and investors, warning against the notion that financial crimes can be concealed behind wealth or complexity in the cryptocurrency realm.

Judge Kaplan determined that FTX customers suffered losses of US$8 billion, while equity investors of FTX lost US$1.7 billion, and lenders to Bankman-Fried’s Alameda Research hedge fund lost US$1.3 billion.

He also issued an US$11 billion forfeiture order and granted the government authority to reimburse victims with confiscated assets.

Federal prosecutors had advocated for a 40 to 50-year sentence, whereas Bankman-Fried’s defense attorney, Mr Mukasey, argued for a significantly shorter term of less than 5¼ years.

Bankman-Fried acknowledged the suffering of customers and regretted his failure to address it adequately during the legal proceedings. He also apologized for disregarding the efforts of his FTX colleagues, recognizing the impact of his actions on their dedication.

Bankman-Fried added: “They put a lot of themselves into it, and I threw that all away. It haunts me every day.”

During the trial, three former associates testified against Bankman-Fried, stating that he instructed them to utilize FTX customer funds to offset losses at Alameda Research. All three individuals have pleaded guilty to charges of fraud.

During the sentencing, Judge Kaplan concluded that Bankman-Fried had lied when he testified that he was unaware of Alameda Research’s use of customer deposits from FTX.

In defense, Mr Mukasey aimed to distinguish his client from infamous fraudsters like Bernie Madoff, characterizing Bankman-Fried as an “awkward math nerd” who prioritized refunding customers after FTX’s collapse.

Describing Bankman-Fried as someone who made decisions based on calculations rather than malice, Mr Mukasey’s remarks visibly moved Bankman-Fried, whose eyes reportedly reddened as he struggled to contain his emotions.

Also present at the sentencing were Bankman-Fried’s parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, both Stanford University law professors.

They left the courthouse together, arm in arm, under a green umbrella on a rainy New York afternoon, expressing their heartbreak and determination in a statement, “We are heartbroken and will continue to fight for our son.”

Bankman-Fried has been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn since August 2023, following the revocation of his bail by Judge Kaplan, who found evidence suggesting he tampered with witnesses.

The judge indicated that he would suggest Bankman-Fried be transferred to a prison near San Francisco.