Sam Bankman-Fried files 11th hour plea for mercy as he faces 50 years in prison: ‘He’s a vegan, gentle, and cares about doing good for the world’
- Lawyers representing the former crypto queen sent out letters urging leniency
- Statements tell the story of a neurodivergent, vegan man who cares for animals and wants to limit suffering
- Friends of Bankman-Fried wrote on his behalf that he was not materialistic
Sam Bankman-Fried’s defense on Tuesday submitted a collection of letters from interested parties asking for leniency for the former FTX CEO, who will be sentenced in two days.
A friend of his from his MIT days said the “vegan” Bankman-Fried would be “an asset to society” if he received a lenient sentence.
‘Sam had a deep feeling for every living thing, including farm animals – so much so that he adopted a vegan diet and convinced several others in our living group to become vegan too. He took every possible step to reduce the suffering,” the friend wrote.
Another friend, this time a college roommate of the crypto founder, had a similar story in court, again citing his deep affinity for farm animals.
Two parents of children with autism – both Asperger’s and autism – wrote sympathetic letters describing their own struggles raising neurodivergent children.
Sam Bankman-Fried leaves court
One parent wrote that she didn’t know her son was on the spectrum until he was 31. She explained that children with autism often withdraw when faced with chaotic situations.
“Although I have never met Sam, I firmly believe that while he may have an MIT degree, he did not fully understand the scope of what was going on and had no malicious intent.”
The collapse of the FTX in November 2022 was certainly chaotic. It lasted more than a week, culminating in the closing of the stock exchange and bankruptcy.