Crypto grifter Sam Bankman-Fried lands in solitary after he praises GOP in ploy for Trump pardon: Report

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Friday 07 March 2025 23:30 EST


Imprisoned crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried reportedly landed in solitary confinement after he praised the GOP in a jailhouse interview with Tucker Carlson in an apparent ploy to win a pardon from Donald Trump. Bankman-Fried ended up in solitary after he failed to obtain permission for the interview from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, The New York Times reported Friday. The interview took place on a video call in a side room of the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center on Thursday, which was Bankman-Fried’s 33rd birthday.

Bankman-Fried appeared to attempt to curry favor with the GOP and Trump in the interview as he told Carlson that he began to turn his back on Democrats years ago and developed a better relationship with Republicans. “I don’t think I’m a criminal,” he also told Carlson at prison, where he noted that fellow inmate Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has been charged with sex crimes, has been “kind” to him.

Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2023 after his conviction on seven counts of wire and securities fraud and money laundering in the collapse of his crypto exchange, FTX. He misappropriated billions of dollars of customer funds deposited with FTX, defrauded FTX investors of more than $1.7 billion, and defrauded lenders to his cryptocurrency trading fund Alameda of more than $1.3 billion, according to the Department of Justice.

Bankman-Fried’s plans for a “comeback” as FTX was imploding was to "go on Tucker Carlsen, come out as Republican," according to notes to himself revealed in an exhibit in the federal case against him. He and his family have reportedly been stepping up a drive to win a pardon from Trump.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/bankmanfried-republican-trump-pardon-tucker-carlson-b2711286.html

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142993014
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143153235
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143217137
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143287385

[Walleye]

1. Basically, just a dishonest person like the rest of these guys.

“I’m not a criminal“ he said as he was doing 25 years in prison

[BumRushDaShow]

2. His fraud with FTX and its bankruptcy helped to take out some regional banks that dealt with crypto

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143043488
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143044364

[Eugene]

3. SBF thinks that, if the politicians he thought he was buying were honest, they would have stayed bought.

Saw Coffezilla's take on the interview. The video exchange seemed odd, but I didn't make the connection that this financial "genius" was likely using a contraband smartphone.

Sam landed at MDC Brooklyn after flagrantly violated bail conditions. He just might have earned a bed a higher security prison once he moves on from detention. He just doesn't think rules should apply to him.

[Irish_Dem]

4. What is Trump charging for a pardon these days.

Cannot be cheap, Trump doesn't give anything away.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. He's a Crypto bro

who is expert at fraud so his "services" can be rendered as an exchange.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Exactly my thoughts. Break the criminal out of jail to work for the Trump crime syndicate.

[Bengus81]

6. That POS has hundreds of millions of $$$ stashed away that needs to be found

He was tripping over himself to be tried and sentenced so he can get it over with. Huh...25 years? He won't don't 15 for a non-violent crime. He'll be out in his early 40's.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. "That POS has hundreds of millions of $$$ stashed away that needs to be found"

I expect his parents.

ETA - as a "Crypto Bro", he'll probably be pardoned with his sentence commuted.

[JoseBalow]

13. He'll do 21+ years, 85% of his Federal sentence, with good behavior.

If he's disciplined while in, that good-time credit (54 days per year) can be taken away by the BOP.

[mdbl]

9. I'm surprised Dump has appointed him as treasury secretary

[progressoid]

10. Exactly

[Aussie105]

11. Sam thinks:

Does Trump like crypto? Definitely!

Does Trump like ripping people off? Definitely!

So Sam is like: 'Yoohoo Mr Trump sir! Got a job for me? I've got the skills and attitudes you approve of. Let me out first!'

[Buddyzbuddy]

12. Sam would prefer a cell to himself, meals brought to him

and to be kept away from the violent criminals if he has to be locked up. For a guy like him, general population is the punishment. Toss his cell regularly. A guy with money is dangerous and in danger at the same time. He can buy protection and privileges. But guys want to squeeze him for a piece of the pie.

[JoseBalow]

14. He may not necessarily be alone in the SHU

Circumstances may be a lot worse for him in there with the wrong cellmate(s) than in a regular housing unit.

[Buddyzbuddy]

16. Unless I'm missing something

isn't the meaning of solitary confinement to be locked in a cell by yourself. Unless the inmates breakout the worst that can happen is his food is tampered with or they call him names. Sure there are ways to gain access to him but he's low risk not a target. Think Epstein.

[JoseBalow]

17. Some people mistakenly use the blanket phrase "solitary"

and it is often referred to as "segregation," however the BOP does not use the term "Solitary Confinement" as the OP mistakenly did. But it is actually called SHU - Special Housing Unit. Each cell has a bunk bed, so they are actually designed for more than one person, and sometimes 3 or more inmates are crammed into each cell, depending on circumstances. There are some cases where a particularly violent inmate might be segregated alone for a time, but if they are short on space they will regularly double or triple up, regardless.

And it is not particularly hard for another inmate orderly or guard to "get to" someone in the SHU's housing or rec area.

[Buddyzbuddy]

18. Thank you for that informative clarification.

[NBachers]

19. I can confirm that being thrown in the "hole" or the SHU is not the same as solitary. You can have bunkmates;

you can be accessible in a common area.

[BrianTheEVGuy]

15. Scammers prefer other scammers

For SBF to embrace Trump is thus completely expected.