Lawyers representing Sam Bankman-Fried have challenged the proposed maximum sentence of 50 years in prison, arguing that it invokes a “medieval” view of punishment. The defense team wrote to District Judge Lewis Kaplan on Tuesday, strongly disagreeing with the proposed sentencing.
The filing accuses the memorandum from prosecutors of distorting reality and portraying Bankman-Fried as a “depraved super-villain” with dark and selfish motives. The government minimizes the chance of FTX’s bankruptcy, helping recover lost assets and aiming to demonize the ex-crypto tycoon.
Additionally, the defense says that Bankman-Fried displays no signs of repeating past offenses, given his college education and lack of criminal history. They claim that 40–50 years of imprisonment, as proposed by prosecutors, is not justice.
US legal authorities urge the judge to impose 40-50 years imprisonment for SBF. He was found guilty of defrauding investors in FTX and Alameda, which is what’s described as a major financial fraud in U.S. history.
The court’s sentencing for Bankman-Fried’s charges is scheduled for March 28. Previously, his legal counsel had requested a “just sentence” of 63 to 78 months.
As the legal battle continues, the case has gained a lot of attention, showing how complex and serious it is when FTX falls apart and its ex-CEO’s actions are questioned.
Also Read: Photo Leak Exposes Bankman-Fried’s Gangster Behavior in Prison.
