Sam Bankman-Fried claims his autism spectrum dysfunction means he’s ‘uniquely vulnerable’ and so he shouldn’t go to jail for 100 years

In a sentencing memo filed Tuesday, legal professionals for SBF requested a decide to condemn him to 63 to 78 months in jail partly as a result of he’s “uniquely vulnerable in a prison population.” His legal professionals declare that SBF’s autism spectrum dysfunction places him at larger threat of violence and extortion by different inmates due to how he acts, in keeping with the submitting. 

“Because individuals with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) may have difficulty responding to certain social cues and contexts, they are at risk from both other inmates and prison guards who may view their failure to respond ‘appropriately’ to social cues as disrespectful or disobedient,” SBF’s legal professionals write within the memo.

Bankman-Fried would even have bother understanding and appearing in accordance with any “unwritten rules,” that depend on social cues and differ from the precise guidelines of the jail, in keeping with the submitting.

The disgraced crypto CEO misappropriated buyer funds to purchase actual property, ads, and to help dangerous bets at FTX’s sister buying and selling agency. When the home of playing cards collapsed, it left clients out of billions of {dollars}, a few of whom lost their life savings. Sentencing tips advocate that the 31-year-old be locked up for a most of 110 years after he was discovered responsible of seven counts related to fraud dedicated as CEO. Prosecutors have but to file their very own sentencing suggestions.

Prior to now, Bankman-Fried tried to slot in regardless of his neurodivergence by training facial expressions and forcing himself to make eye contact, his legal professionals added, however he might be perceived as, “abrupt, dismissive, evasive, detached or uncaring.” That is particularly the case when he’s beneath strain and might’t put together beforehand, the memo reads. The legal professionals added that SBF has additionally been on drugs for anhedonic melancholy since school.

Bankman-Fried in jail

Since his bail was revoked in August, Bankman-Fried has been held at Metropolitan Detention Heart in New York Metropolis, a facility that’s recognized for staffing shortages and subpar situations. Bankman-Fried’s legal professionals have additionally complained about his means to get the prescribed medications he must deal with his ADHD and melancholy.

Final week, crypto influencer and journalist Tiffany Fong revealed the first image of SBF in prison, which confirmed him a number of kilos lighter and clasping his fingers as he posed with different inmates. One of many inmates pictured with SBF additionally instructed Fong in an interview that the previous FTX CEO was “weird as shit” and “can be strange” however that he’s a superb particular person and President Biden ought to in the end pardon him.

Whereas a number of of his shut enterprise associates, together with his ex-girlfriend and CEO of FTX’s sister buying and selling agency Alameda analysis Caroline Ellison, testified against him throughout his trial, his household and others who knew him carefully filed letters of help with the decide that spoke to his good character and touched on his social behaviors.

One letter, written by the psychiatrist he has been seeing since 2019 who was additionally FTX’s former in-house coach, supported Bankman-Fried’s legal professionals’ claims that he may very well be in danger due to his autism. The psychiatrist, Dr. George Ok. Lerner, stated within the letter that SBF’s intelligence allowed him to compensate for his social deficiencies, however that he will get worse when he’s confused or beneath strain.

“[H]e can lose his ability to compensate and as a result can come across to others as brusque, unfeeling, sometimes as if he doesn’t even hear them,” Lerner wrote.

One other supporter, fellow inmate and accused pedophile Carmine Simpson, added that Bankman-Fried has, greater than the typical inmate, been focused for hazing, harassment, and assault. His claims couldn’t be verified.

“Sam is the least physically intimidating person and this is especially noticeable inside a jail,” Simpson wrote.

SBF and his legal professionals declare that together with consideration for his autism, SBF ought to get a lighter sentence as a result of he has up to now given giant sums to charity and since the FTX clients who misplaced cash resulting from his crimes are more likely to be made whole by the company sooner or later. SBF has not been concerned within the efforts to repay clients. 

Whereas Bankman-Fried’s legal professionals and supporters are asking for a leaner sentence, others say he shouldn’t get off so simply.

Bankman-Fried’s listening to is about for March 28.