SBF Asks For 5-Year Prison Sentence, Calls 100-Year Recommendation 'Grotesque'

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Convicted FTX fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded for a lenient prison sentence in a court filing yesterday, saying that he isn't motivated by greed and 'is already being punished.' Bankman-Fried requested a sentence of 63 to 78 months, or 5.25 to 6.5 years. Because of 'Sam's charitable works and demonstrated commitment to others, a sentence that returns Sam promptly to a productive role in society would be sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to comply with the purposes of sentencing,' the court filing (PDF) said. Bankman-Fried's filing also said that he maintains his innocence and intends to appeal his convictions.

A presentence investigation report (PSR) prepared by a probation officer recommended that Bankman-Fried be sentenced to 100 years in prison, according to the filing. 'That recommendation is grotesque,' SBF's filing said, arguing that it is based on an erroneously calculated loss of $10 billion. The $10 billion loss asserted in the PSR is 'illusory' because the 'victims are poised to recover -- were always poised to recover -- a hundred cents on the dollar' in bankruptcy proceedings, SBF's filing said. The filing urged the court to 'reject the PSR's barbaric proposal' of 100 years, saying that such sentences should only be for 'heinous conduct' like terrorism and child sexual abuse.

The founder and ex-CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven charges with a combined maximum sentence of 110 years after a monthlong trial in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The charges included wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, and money laundering. US government prosecutors are required to make a sentencing recommendation by March 15, and US District Judge Lewis Kaplan is scheduled to issue a sentence on March 28.

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