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Crypto lawyer John E. Deaton opined that Sam Bankman-Fried is most likely to spend multiple decades in prison after a 12-person jury unanimously found FTX’s founder guilty on all seven counts. 
Deaton’s view is that Bankman-Fried sealed his fate by depending on his testimony and on the chances of a hung trial. A hung trial occurs when one or more jury member finds the defendant innocent therefore prolonging deliberation and a trial.&nbsp; 
“I will come back and eat my words if he gets lower than 10 years but I think conservatively, he gets at least 30-40 years,” said the crypto lawyer on X Spaces. Deaton posited that Bankman-Fried chose the path with the lengthiest possible sentence.&nbsp; 
FTX’s former boss had three options per Deaton’s analysis: Plead guilty and bank on the court’s mercy, deny the allegations and fight for a hung trial by convincing one juror of his innocence, or cooperate with the Justice Department on political donations and <a href="https://crypto.news/sbf-trial-day-11-financial-forensic-report-exposes-ftx-9-3b-money-trail/">campaign finance charges</a> for a lighter sentence. 
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 After the Government flipped the 3 big witnesses with shorter prison terms (Caroline, Wang, etc.), the prosecutor wasn’t going to offer Sam a deal. He had 3 choices: 1) plead guilty, admit to everything and throw himself on the mercy of the Court; 2) plead not guilty, testify… <a href="https://t.co/DmhOjccg8J" target="_blank">https://t.co/DmhOjccg8J</a>— John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnEDeaton1/status/1720439795803906512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">November 3, 2023</a>
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Notably, prosecutors momentarily ditched campaign finance charges due to pressure from the Bahamas government. During witness testimony in <a href="https://crypto.news/ftx-founder-sam-bankman-fried-is-guilty-to-all-charges-crypto-community-reacts/">United States v Sam Bankman-Fried</a>, evidence pointed to expensive incentives directed to Bahamian government officials apparently funded with FTX customer cash and crypto.&nbsp; 
As such, followers of the case have surmised that campaign finance violation allegations could resurface as a full-blown trial following Bankman-Fried’s sentencing which is expected in March 2024. 
 You might also like: <a href="https://crypto.news/a-deep-dive-into-ftxs-on-chain-funds-movement/"> A deep dive into FTX’s on-chain funds movement </a> 
When asked about the prospects of this happening following Nov. 3’s verdict, Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, declined to respond.&nbsp; 
Deaton’s opinion echoed assertions from Lesperance &amp; Associates managing director David Lesperance who told <a href="https://crypto.news/lawyer-expects-around-20-years-of-jail-time-for-sam-bankman-fried/">crypto.news</a> that Bankman-Fried faces around 20 years behind bars. Whatever the case, all eyes are on the court sentencing due from District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan within 90 days of the verdict.&nbsp; 
There are also questions about whether Bankman-Fried’s prison sentence would run concurrently or consecutively.&nbsp; 
 Read more: <a href="https://crypto.news/ftxs-top-lieutenants-will-likely-be-sentenced-after-sam-bankman-fried-bloomberg/"> FTX’s top lieutenants ‘will likely’ be sentenced after Sam Bankman-Fried: Bloomberg </a>

Legal expert says FTX founder set for “double time” in prison

crypto.news

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