- Sam Bankman-Fried says he is “haunted, every single day” by what occurred at FTX.
- The disgraced crypto mogul advised ABC Information that he by no means thought what he was doing was unlawful.
- Bankman-Fried was convicted of seven legal counts and sentenced to 25 years in jail final week.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried says he “by no means supposed to harm anybody or take anybody’s cash.”
“I by no means thought that what I used to be doing was unlawful. However I attempted to carry myself to a excessive normal, and I definitely did not meet that normal,” the disgraced crypto mogul advised ABC Information in an interview printed Monday.
Bankman-Fried was convicted of seven legal counts, together with fraud and cash laundering, and sentenced to 25 years in jail on Thursday.
“He knew it was fallacious. He knew it was legal. He regrets making a really unhealthy wager in regards to the chance of getting caught,” US District Choose Lewis Kaplan mentioned of Bankman-Fried on Thursday.
Bankman-Fried, nevertheless, expressed regret for his actions throughout his interview with ABC Information.
“I am haunted, every single day, by what was misplaced. I by no means supposed to harm anybody or take anybody’s cash,” Bankman-Fried advised the outlet. “However I used to be the CEO of FTX, I used to be answerable for what occurred to the corporate, and if you’re accountable, it does not matter why it goes unhealthy.”
The implosion of FTX in 2022 ruined its clients’ funds, with some saying that they misplaced their life financial savings after the crypto change collapsed.
“I might give something to have the ability to assist restore even a part of the injury. I am doing what I can from jail, but it surely’s deeply irritating not to have the ability to do extra,” he continued.
Consultant for Bankman-Fried advised BI that they don’t have any additional feedback on the interview.
Bankman-Fried’s authorized workforce, who’d initially requested for a sentence of 6.5 years, mentioned they might be submitting an enchantment. Earlier than his Thursday sentencing, Bankman-Fried’s legal professionals argued that prosecutors have been overstating their shopper’s offenses.
His legal professional, Marc Mukasey, additional argued in a sentencing memorandum on February 27 that FTX’s victims “are poised to get well — have been all the time poised to get well — 100 cents on the greenback.”
In February, legal professionals for FTX’s debtors advised a Delaware chapter courtroom that collectors and clients can anticipate to be made entire, per Axios.
However FTX’s new CEO, John Ray III, has disagreed with Bankman-Fried’s claims.
In a letter filed to the New York District Court docket on March 20, Ray mentioned that the one purpose FTX might get well a few of their belongings was as a result of they’d eliminated Bankman-Fried from the corporate.
“Mr. Bankman-Fried continues to reside a lifetime of delusion. The ‘enterprise’ he left on November 11, 2022, was neither solvent nor protected,” Ray wrote.
