Attorney Calls Proposed Sentence for Sam Bankman-Fried ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Barbaric’

Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyer, Marc Mukasey, has strongly criticized the proposed sentencing recommendation for the FTX founder, calling it “grotesque” and “barbaric.”

Challenging the Probation Office’s Recommendation

Mukasey expressed his objection to the probation office’s pre-sentencing report (PSR), which recommended a 100-year prison term for Bankman-Fried. He argued that this recommendation significantly exaggerates the severity of Bankman-Fried’s actions and advocated for a more lenient sentence.

FTX Victims and Recovery

According to Mukasey, victims of the crypto exchange FTX are expected to recover their losses fully, implying that the severity of the proposed sentence is unwarranted given the circumstances.

Proposed Alternative Sentence

Instead of the 100-year term, Mukasey proposed a sentence ranging from five to six-and-a-half years for Bankman-Fried. He highlighted Bankman-Fried’s charitable contributions and commitment to others as factors that should be considered in sentencing.

Balancing Justice and Rehabilitation

Mukasey emphasized the importance of a sentence that allows Bankman-Fried to reintegrate into society promptly while fulfilling the objectives of sentencing.

Pending Sentencing

Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy in November, facing a potential 110-year prison term. His sentencing is scheduled for March 28.

Despite requests for comment, representatives for Bankman-Fried did not respond to inquiries from Business Insider outside regular business hours.