By Enoch Mutembei
As the sentencing date for Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, approaches, a plea for leniency has emerged from an unexpected source – his own family. In a recent filing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, SBF’s attorneys filed 29 letters of support, including heartfelt endorsements from his mother, father and brother.
Barbara Fried, Joseph Bankman and Gabriel Bankman-Fried, the 31-year-old former CEO’s mother, father and brother, all wrote letters to Judge Lewis Kaplan, shedding light on SBF’s upbringing, personality and contributions to FTX. Despite SBF’s conviction on seven charges, the family fervently calls for a lenient sentence, highlighting the potential waste of his life in prison.
In his letter, Gabriel Bankman-Fried stated: “Sam has made mistakes, but his life would be wasted in prison. He has great gifts to offer the world.” The family’s plea is based on the belief that SBF’s talents and abilities can be better utilized outside the prison environment.
The sentencing phase, unlike the trial, allows for personal appeals from friends and family. Judge Lewis Kaplan will determine the length of Bankman-Fried’s prison term on March 28. Speculation about the possible sentence varies, with experts suggesting 15 to 25 years. However, the maximum sentence of around 110 years is considered unlikely, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Joseph Bankman, SBF’s father, warned of a “draconian sentence” and expressed concern about the physical dangers his son could face in prison. He highlighted SBF’s difficulty in responding to social cues, and urged the court to consider alternative sentencing options. According to Joseph Bankman, SBF prioritized repaying investors before his arrest, minimizing claims of lavish spending.
Barbara Fried, in her lengthy letter, described SBF’s desire to help others from his childhood through his time in prison. She highlighted his commitment to tutoring fellow inmates for GED exams. Fried urged Judge Kaplan to take into account her son’s poor response to social cues, saying he has been “wracked with remorse” since the murder. collapse of FTX in November 2022.
Reactions surrounding Bankman-Fried’s family pleading for leniency
The letters from Bankman’s relatives have downplayed the impact of FTX’s collapse on investors and Bankman-Fried’s role in the fraud. As reactions on social media have been mixed, some users have criticized the plea for leniency, drawing comparisons to other cases such as Billy McFarland of the Fyre Festival.
One user, Kyle Gibson, commented: “The people writing letters for leniency in the SBF sentencing should take a look at what Billy McFarland from Fyre Festival is doing now, and how much rehabilitation he has had in prison.” Gibson expressed skepticism about SBF’s potential for rehabilitation and suggested a return to previous activities if released.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team has proposed a sentence of 63 to 78 months, with prosecutors expected to present their recommendations on March 15. As Bankman-Fried approaches his 32nd birthday on March 6, it will mark his first anniversary behind bars since bailing. was withdrawn in August 2023. The upcoming verdict remains a pivotal moment for the former FTX CEO and those closely following the case.