• Ryan Salame, former FTX executive, has begun his seven-and-a-half-year prison term at FCI Cumberland in Maryland.

• Salame pleaded guilty to making illegal political contributions and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business at FTX.

• His refusal to cooperate with authorities set him apart from other FTX figures, who received lighter sentences after testifying.

Ryan Salame, a former high-ranking executive at the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has begun serving his seven-and-a-half-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Cumberland in Maryland. 

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Salame is now incarcerated at this medium-security facility, which also includes a minimum-security satellite camp. The prison houses over 1,000 inmates, where Salame will serve his time following his guilty plea in connection to the FTX scandal.

In September, Salame admitted guilt on two significant charges: conspiring to make illegal political contributions and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Both of these charges were linked to his work under Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced former CEO of FTX, whose once-powerful cryptocurrency empire collapsed amidst scandal. 

Salame’s involvement in the illegal activities centered around funneling money into political donations and managing unauthorized transactions as part of FTX’s operations.

Salame’s case has drawn particular attention due to his unique role in the FTX scandal compared to other executives. While individuals such as Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, and Nishad Singh cooperated with authorities and testified during Bankman-Fried’s trial, Salame chose a different path.

 He invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, opting not to testify or cooperate with prosecutors. This decision set him apart from others involved in the case, who faced less severe sentencing after cooperating.

Salame’s political affiliations also made headlines during the investigation. He was a prominent Republican donor, in contrast to other FTX figures who were more aligned with Democratic contributions.

His connection to Michelle Bond, a crypto lobbyist, further fueled interest in the political angles of the case. Salame’s political activities were scrutinized by prosecutors, adding another dimension to his sentencing and legal fallout.

Despite his refusal to cooperate, Salame received a sentence of seven and a half years, significantly longer than those handed to other FTX executives.

Caroline Ellison, who played a central role in FTX’s collapse, received a two-year sentence, largely due to her cooperation with authorities. Bankman-Fried, the architect behind FTX’s fraudulent activities, was sentenced to nearly 25 years in prison earlier this year.