CZ will return in 4 weeks?

In April, Zhao Changpeng was sentenced to 4 months in prison for pleading guilty to money laundering charges, far less than the 3-year sentence requested by federal prosecutors. Before sentencing, Zhao Changpeng expressed to the judge his regret for failing to implement an adequate anti-money laundering program.

Why did the judge give Zhao Changpeng a lighter sentence? Prosecutors originally requested a 36-month sentence, but the judge sentenced him to only 4 months. A detailed analysis of the trial documents shows that three key factors determined the sentence.

First, Zhao Changpeng took the initiative to surrender and actively cooperated with the investigation throughout the process, showing respect for the law and a responsible attitude. He took the initiative to travel from the UAE to the United States for trial, a move that was widely recognized by the trial. At the same time, Zhao Changpeng's family environment is stable and he has minor children to support, which aroused the sympathy of the judge.

Secondly, Binance, represented by Zhao Changpeng, agreed to pay a settlement compensation of up to US$4.3 billion, showing their awareness and sincerity of the actions they committed. This compensation is not only an apology for the crime, but also reflects a good attitude of cooperation with the government.

Furthermore, the 161 letters of recommendation supporting Zhao Changpeng came from important people and groups in many aspects, involving positive comments on his family, career and social reputation, which had an important impact on the judge. The judge personally read these letters carefully and was deeply moved.

Finally, when sentencing, the judge took into account Zhao Changpeng's good background of no criminal record in the past, and believed that he showed awareness of wrong behavior and attitude to correct it, which was another important factor in lenient punishment. Combining the above factors, the court finally made a decision of lenient punishment after weighing Zhao Changpeng's fault, attitude of confession, compensation measures and social support. This judgment not only focuses on the facts of the crime, but also comprehensively evaluates the defendant's overall performance and social evaluation.