Sam Bankman-Fried appeals conviction, criticizes judge’s ‘unbalanced’ decisions

Lawyers representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO and co-founder of FTX who was convicted of fraud and money laundering late last year, are demanding a new trial.

Following the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all seven counts and subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $11 billion. He is serving his sentence in Brooklyn.

Bloomberg reports that Bankman-Fried’s appeal focuses on the conduct of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who alleges that Kaplan’s rulings were “not only inaccurate but also unbalanced” and that the judge “constantly mocked Bankman-Fried throughout the trial, repeatedly criticized his conduct and indicated that he did not believe Bankman-Fried’s testimony.”

The appeal also alleges that Kaplan “repeatedly ridiculed the defense” while helping the government present its case and that he “improperly exhorted” jurors to reach a quick verdict.

Bankman-Fried’s lawyers are seeking a new trial under a new judge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case, said it did not plan to comment on the filing.