FTX founder SBF, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison last week, expressed remorse in an email sent to ABC through the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC Brooklyn) yesterday, saying that he never thought that what he did was It is illegal, and every day he spends in prison, he is thinking about how to get full compensation from users.
(Latest: FTX founder SBF sentenced to 25 years in prison)
SBF interviewed via email for the first time since being imprisoned
Recently, SBF (Sam Bankman-Fried) accepted an exclusive interview with ABC News, an American broadcaster, which was his first exclusive interview after the trial.
A few days ago, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for seven counts of fraud, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering, and more than $11 billion was forfeited.
(The last words spoken by the SBF court before being sentenced to 25 years in prison: Sorry FTX colleagues)
Never meant to hurt anyone
SBF first expressed its apology to the victim users, saying that they regretted what they had done and were even troubled by these thoughts:
These things that have been lost occupy my thoughts, and I would give anything to make amends.
He added, "I never intended to hurt anyone or take anyone's money."
However, Judge Lewis Kaplan told the court that SBF had never expressed any remorse for the horrific crimes he committed.
I never thought that what I was doing was illegal
In addition, SBF also emphasized that he never thought that his actions were illegal, but he admitted that he did not meet the standards he should have:
It never occurred to me that what I was doing was illegal, I tried to hold myself to a high standard, but I clearly didn't live up to that standard.
"I have seen and heard the despair, frustration and betrayal of thousands of users, and their compensation should be paid in full at current prices," he said.
Reaffirmation: Ability to repay funds in full
At the same time, SBF once again reiterated his long-standing claim in the email, saying that both FTX and Alameda actually have enough assets to repay FTX’s creditors in full:
FTX’s bankruptcy is the result of several “wrong decisions” I made in 2022. It is not the result of selfish behavior. We have the ability and willingness to repay.
However, the judge had already refuted this in court, saying that SBF's remarks were misleading and logically flawed.
SBF apologizes: Sorry to colleagues and charities
As previously reported, SBF also expressed its apologies to FTX employees, mentioning FTX’s former public relations chief Natalie, former technical chief Gary, former engineering director Nishad Singh, and former Alameda CEO Caroline, saying that through a series of wrong decisions, And let them down:
I also feel the pain of all my employees when I give up a career they have devoted their heart and soul to. They gave their lives for FTX and I abandoned them.
He added, “I also feel the pain of the charities that FTX has long supported, because our funds have only brought them reputational damage.”
On the other hand, SBF's legal team also revealed in an exclusive interview that it will file an appeal within nearly two weeks, pointing out that some testimonies "seriously mislead the facts" and did not even provide relevant evidence or witnesses.
(A glance at what the crypto community thinks of SBF’s criminal liability: Is being imprisoned for 25 years considered a light sentence for SBF? Comments from the crypto community and Vitalik)
This article FTX founder SBF was interviewed after the trial: He never thought he would break the law and was troubled by what he lost every day. It first appeared on Lian News ABMedia.
