Alex Mashinsky Seeks One-Year Sentence as DOJ Pushes for 20 Years

Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky is asking for a significantly reduced prison sentence ahead of his May 8 sentencing, with his legal team pushing back hard against the U.S. Department of Justice’s call for a 20-year term.

In a filing submitted Monday, his attorneys urged the court to consider a one-year sentence instead, arguing that anything longer would effectively amount to a life sentence for the 58-year-old former executive.

Mashinsky’s legal team labeled the government’s sentencing recommendation a “death-in-prison” punishment, criticizing the DOJ for what they described as a harsh and dehumanizing portrayal of their client.

They highlighted Mashinsky’s military service, business contributions, and lack of a violent criminal record as mitigating factors, stating that a 20-year term would unfairly compare him to high-profile offenders like Sam Bankman-Fried or Bernie Madoff.

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Prosecutors, on the other hand, cited Mashinsky’s experience and the severity of the fraud as justification for the lengthy sentence. They noted that more than 200 Celsius users had submitted statements detailing the emotional and financial devastation caused by the platform’s collapse. Mashinsky has already pleaded guilty to fraud charges and agreed to forfeit $48 million.

The final decision now rests with the court, as Mashinsky seeks leniency in what has become one of the most high-profile sentencing cases in crypto history.

Alexander Stefanov