Judge Kaplan: He had been exceptionally ambitous and aware of his talents. Ms. Ellison testified that he was very ambitious. He talked about building two huge companies and very interested in politics and wanted to use his money to have an influence on politics
Judge Kaplan: He said there was a five percent chance he'd be president one day. Indeed, this was a huge financial crime. He wanted to be a hugely politically influential person in his country. It wasn't just the left end of the spectrum
Judge Kaplan: He set up a vehicle to make donation to the right, through straws that wouldn't come back to him. Some of this, at one point, might have been attributed to him have presented himself as in favor of appropriate regulation of the crypto industry
Judge Kaplan: In my judgment, that was an act. And he admitted it, ultimately. On November 15 or 16, he was interviewed by a reporter he knew well who said, You said a lot of stuff about good regulations - was that just P.R. too? He: "Yeah, f*ck regulators."
Judge Kaplan: It was power. Influence... Caroline Ellison was asked, How did the defendant describe his approach to risk? Answer: He said he was risk neutral, he was comfortable as long as positive E.V. - expected value
Judge Kaplan: A man willing to flip a coin as to the continued existence of life on earth. Mr. Bankman-Fried knew that Alameda was spending customer funds on risky investments, political contributions and Bahamas real estate. The funds were not his to use
Judge Kaplan: One of his pithier expression, I think, was "I f*cked up." Mr. Bankman-Fried has the right to plead not guilty & go to trial. Everybody's got that right and I don't hold it against him. But I come back to Ms. Ellison's testimony. He knew it was wrong
Judge Kaplan: He's not going to admit a thing. As is his right. Specific deterrence? His name is mud around the world. But he's persistent and he's a great marketing guy. Mr. Roos is right that the outlines of Sam Bankman-Fried's revised version are clear
Judge Kaplan: The same skills that had him, even after arrest, pitching his story to a huge number of media people. He had every right, we discussed that... On general deterrence, at the end of the day the criminal justice system thrives only if it's seen as fair
Judge Kaplan: People need to feel, It's fair. Or we're back to trial by combat, folks, or something like it. So punishment must fit the seriousness of the crime. And this.. Was. A. Serious. Crimes. Bear with me.
Judge Kaplan: The defendant will rise for the imposition of sentence, please.... [SBF stands, as do his 3 lawyers] Judge Kaplan: I know the Probation Department recommends 105 years, and the Government 40 to 50 years. That would be more than necessary.
Judge Kaplan: I am not diminishing the harm. The brazenness of his actions. His exceptional flexibility with the truth. His apparent lack of any remorse. I want to add one further thought. I did not think it a fruitful use of time to spell out every lie -
@innercitypress Man this judge knows how to cook up a climax