The initial glimpses of Sam Bankman-Fried, the convicted founder of the bankrupt FTX exchange, within New York’s Metropolitan Detention Centre, have surfaced online, thanks to crypto influencer Tiffany Fong.
Fong shared these exclusive pictures of SBF on Feb 20 on the social media platform X, marking them as the “first and only” photos of him since his conviction.
In the photograph, the disgraced FTX founder appeared with a beard, standing alongside five other inmates, including an individual known as G Lock, introduced by Fong as her “new inmate friend.”
Several members of the crypto community observed Bankman-Fried’s noticeable weight loss, with Fong stating, “SBF obviously shed some weight, and I’ve heard he’s not keeping up with personal hygiene. He’s not as clean-shaven as before, indicating the challenges he’s currently facing.”
Considering the fact that august 2023, SBF has been detained on the metropolitan jail after choose lewis kaplan remanded him on suspicions of trying to steer witnesses.
According to federal inmate records cited by CryptoSlate, the New York center is notorious for its poor conditions, including staffing shortages, corruption among staff, power outages, infestations of cockroaches and rodents, inadequate food, and malfunctioning toilets.
While awaiting sentencing scheduled for March 28, the judge will consider various factors, including the nature of Sam Bankman-Fried’s offenses and personal background. Despite being found guilty on all seven charges, SBF faces a potential 110-year prison term. Speculation persists regarding a potential reduced sentence, partly influenced by FTX’s commitment to fully reimburse creditors.
Nevertheless, the likelihood of defrauded FTX clients receiving restitution before SBF’s sentencing appears slim as the firm’s bankruptcy proceedings continue.