Former cryptocurrency executive who co-founded Alameda Research and founded and led the FTX exchange, and who was convicted of fraud and conspiracy offences in 2023.
Most recent filing 15 Oct 2026Last confirmed 26 Oct 202630 sources
Question
What is Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal position?
Present position
ConvictedPresent position
Convicted and serving a 25-year sentence; the conviction was affirmed by the Second Circuit on 12 Jun 2026 and a certiorari petition (No. 26-349) is pending at the U.S. Supreme Court, with the government's response due 16 Nov 2026. A reported clemency application has not been granted.
Detail
Federal criminal prosecution (FTX/Alameda fraud), S.D.N.Y.
Convicted
Convicted and serving a 25-year sentence; the conviction was affirmed by the Second Circuit on 12 Jun 2026 and a certiorari petition (No. 26-349) is pending at the U.S. Supreme Court, with the government's response due 16 Nov 2026. A reported clemency application has not been granted.12345678910111213141516
Authority
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York; U.S. District Court S.D.N.Y.; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court
Status as of
13 Oct 2026
History
9 Dec 2022Criminal case 1:22-cr-00673 filed in S.D.N.Y. (later assigned to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan).
Dec 2022Arrested in The Bahamas at U.S. request; extradited to the United States on 21 Dec 2022.
2 Nov 2023Jury found him guilty on all seven counts (wire fraud x2, wire fraud conspiracy x2, securities fraud conspiracy, commodities fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy).
28 Mar 2024Sentenced to 25 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and $11 billion forfeiture.
28 Apr 2026Judge Kaplan denied his February 2026 motion for a new trial.
12 Jun 2026Second Circuit (No. 24-961-cr; opinion by Judge Barrington D. Parker, with Judges Eunice Lee and Maria Araújo Kahn) affirmed the district court judgment, rejecting challenges to the conviction and the $11 billion forfeiture.
8 Jun 2026Reported that a clemency application ('pardon after completion of sentence') is listed by the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney; the White House declined comment and pointed to a January 2026 interview in which Trump said he would not pardon him. No grant has been reported.
4 Aug 2026Second Circuit issued its mandate.
10 Sep 2026Filed petition for a writ of certiorari, Supreme Court No. 26-349 (docketed 15 Sep 2026).
13 Oct 2026Supreme Court extended the government's response deadline to 16 Nov 2026.
CFTC civil enforcement action (FTX/Alameda)
Allegation
As of the CFTC's August 2024 release, the case against Bankman-Fried personally remained in litigation; no later resolution was found.17181920
Authority
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; U.S. District Court S.D.N.Y.
Status as of
8 Aug 2024
History
13 Dec 2022CFTC filed complaint against Bankman-Fried, FTX Trading Ltd. and Alameda Research LLC; amended on 21 Dec 2022 to add Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang.
8 Aug 2024Consent order of $12.7 billion ($8.7bn restitution, $4bn disgorgement) entered against FTX and Alameda; litigation continued against individual defendants including Bankman-Fried.
Civil allegations, stayed pending the criminal case as reported in Feb 2023; no judgment against Bankman-Fried personally was found in sources reviewed.212022
Authority
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; U.S. District Court S.D.N.Y.
Status as of
Feb 2023
History
13 Dec 2022SEC filed complaint (No. 1:22-cv-10501) alleging violations of Securities Act s.17(a) and Exchange Act s.10(b)/Rule 10b-5.
Feb 2023SEC and CFTC civil cases against him reported stayed until the criminal case concludes.
19 Dec 2025SEC filed proposed consent judgments against Ellison, Wang and Singh in separate related SEC cases (Nos. 1:22-cv-10794 and 1:23-cv-01691); these do not involve Bankman-Fried as a party.