Sam Bankman loses his appeal: Federal Court confirms his fraud conviction
This Friday, the federal appeals court of the second circuit unanimously upheld the conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried and his 25-year prison sentence for fraud. The judges dismissed all his arguments, labeling the government's evidence as 'solid'. For the fallen FTX founder, the legal pathway is now closed.
In Brief
The federal appeals court unanimously validated the 25-year sentence imposed on Sam Bankman-Fried in 2023.
The judges rejected the defense's main argument: that FTX could have reimbursed its customers, as fraud is established once false statements are used to obtain money.
SBF officially submitted a presidential pardon request to the DOJ on June 8, 2026, his only remaining recourse.
Sam Bankman's conviction withstands the appeal
The decision handed down on Friday by the judges in Manhattan leaves no room for doubt. Bankman-Fried claimed that FTX remained solvent at the time of the events and that his clients could have been fully reimbursed. This argument, based on FTX's liquidation and effective reimbursements to creditors, did not convince the court.
The judges cited a Supreme Court ruling from 2025 to decide. Fraud is established when a 'material false statement' is used to deceive victims and obtain funds, regardless of whether the accused intends to cause them a net loss.
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