Sam Bankman-Fried Transferred to New Facility Amid Pardon Efforts

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has recently been relocated from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center to FTC Oklahoma City, a facility that temporarily houses inmates during transfers.

Although the reason for this move remains unclear, it follows a controversial incident in which Bankman-Fried conducted an unauthorized interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson on YouTube. The interview reportedly led to Bankman-Fried being placed in solitary confinement, as reported by The New York Times, citing anonymous sources familiar with the situation.

Bankman-Fried’s interview with Carlson appears to be part of his attempt to secure a pardon from former President Donald Trump, though experts suggest his chances of success are minimal. Many crypto lobbyists have expressed skepticism, with one stating that Bankman-Fried has a “near zero” chance of receiving a pardon.

The FTX founder’s legal troubles began after the exchange collapsed in November 2022, leading to bankruptcy amid accusations of mismanaging customer funds. Bankman-Fried had allegedly lent out billions of dollars to Alameda Research, FTX’s trading arm. The fallout caused a significant drop in cryptocurrency prices, and the founder was arrested by federal authorities shortly thereafter.

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Bankman-Fried was convicted in 2023 on fraud charges, resulting in a 25-year prison sentence. According to Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) data, his scheduled release is set for November 17, 2044.

Earlier this year, Bankman-Fried’s parents reportedly met with Trump allies and legal figures to explore the possibility of clemency for their son. Joseph Bankman, a Stanford Law School professor, even wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post, in which he praised Trump’s proposal for a US sovereign wealth fund. While Trump pardoned Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht earlier this year, Bankman-Fried does not appear to have the same level of public support.

Alexander Zdravkov