Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the disgraced FTX founder, is on the move again. He’s been transferred from a New York City jail to a transfer facility in Oklahoma City.
From Brooklyn to Oklahoma
SBF was previously held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The Bureau of Prisons now lists him as being at FTC Oklahoma City, a temporary holding facility for prisoners being moved between prisons. The reason for the transfer hasn’t been officially given.
The Carlson Interview and its Consequences
This transfer follows SBF’s unauthorized interview with Tucker Carlson on YouTube. Reports suggest this unsanctioned chat landed him in solitary confinement. The interview was reportedly part of a long-shot attempt to get a pardon from former President Trump.
Pardon Hopes Dim
Experts are skeptical that SBF will receive a pardon. One crypto lobbyist told Fortune that his chances are “near zero.” This is despite efforts by his parents, Stanford Law professors, who reportedly met with Trump allies to discuss clemency. His father even wrote an opinion piece praising Trump’s ideas.
The FTX Collapse and SBF’s Sentence
Remember the FTX collapse? The cryptocurrency exchange went bankrupt in November 2022, after accusations that SBF misused billions of dollars in customer funds. This led to a huge drop in crypto prices and SBF’s arrest. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison after his fraud conviction in 2023. His release date is currently set for November 17, 2044.
A Contrast to the Ulbricht Pardon
While former President Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the creator of Silk Road, SBF’s situation is different. Ulbricht had more grassroots support. SBF’s chances of a pardon seem much lower.
