Key Takeaways
- Former FTX executive Ryan Salame received a seven-year prison term.
- Salame’s lawyers asked for an 18-month sentence for his role in election fraud.
- However, he doesn’t seem scared of going to jail.
- Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang, former Alameda-FTX executives, also testified against Sam Bankman-Fried and admitted guilt.
Ryan Salame, a former executive at the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is facing criminal charges tied to the company’s multi-billion-dollar collapse. Yet, he appears untroubled by the prospect of going to jail.
Despite being sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, set to begin on Oct. 11, Salame has been minimizing the severity of his punishment.
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On social media , the former FTX exec has adopted a surprisingly upbeat tone about his impending prison sentence, describing it as an “exciting” experience and likening it to a summer camp.
His lawyers, meanwhile, have requested that he serve his term at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Md., a medium-security facility near his home.
Salame, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Federal Election Commission in September, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
Despite his lawyers’ initial request for an 18-month sentence, citing his peripheral role in FTX’s fraud and his cooperation with authorities, the court handed down a significantly longer term.
Latest Clash With Court
In his latest court appearance on Sept. 12, Salame admitted to lying under oath about the terms of his plea deal, sparking Judge Lewis A. Kaplan’s ire.
The judge warned Salame of potential sanctions for his false testimony and ordered him to report to prison two days earlier than initially scheduled.
The controversy stems from Salame’s earlier claim that the government had reneged on a promise to cease its investigation into his girlfriend, Michelle Bond, a former Republican congressional candidate.
Salame alleged that prosecutors had used the threat of investigating Bond to coerce his guilty plea despite assurances to the contrary. His attorney, Christopher Bartolomucci, confirmed that the government had indeed made such promises.
Salame’s Partner Involvement
Despite her partner’s plea, Michelle Bond was also charged with violating campaign finance laws in August 2024.
The charges stem from Bond’s acceptance of $400,000 from FTX, where Salame was a top executive. This donation violated federal laws prohibiting direct corporate contributions to political campaigns.
Bond, a 2022 Republican congressional candidate, faces four felony charges, including causing and receiving unlawful contributions.
Other FTX Executives Under Process
Ryan Salame is the latest in a string of FTX executives to face prison time for their roles in the crypto exchange’s downfall.
Months after cooperating with authorities, Caroline Ellison, the former head of Alameda Research, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Her testimony was instrumental in securing the conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried and other FTX executives.
Gary Wang, FTX’s co-founder, has also pleaded guilty to fraud and is cooperating with authorities. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20. Wang’s testimony revealed Alameda’s preferential treatment on the exchange, shedding light on the firm’s internal workings.
Nishad Singh, FTX’s Director of Engineering, has also pleaded guilty to fraud and unlawful political contributions. His testimony highlighted the firm’s financial mismanagement, providing valuable insight into the exchange’s operations. Singh’s sentencing is set for Oct. 30.
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