Crypto Criminals Spending Their First New Year Behind Bars: #2 Will Surprise You

For these once-prominent figures in the crypto world, this New Year is a stark departure from the lavish lifestyles they once enjoyed. Here’s a closer look at some high-profile individuals who are now paying the price for their actions:

1. Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF)

The former CEO of FTX, once hailed as a crypto genius, is now spending 25 years behind bars for fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. He’s currently at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, reflecting on how his empire crumbled so spectacularly.

2. Caroline Ellison

As the former CEO of Alameda Research and SBF’s ex-girlfriend, Caroline played a pivotal role in the FTX fallout. She’s serving a two-year sentence for fraud at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut—a far cry from her days at the top of the crypto game.

3. Ryan Salame

Once the co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, Ryan pleaded guilty to fraud charges. Now, he’s serving seven and a half years at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, learning just how fleeting success can be.

4. Alexey Pertsev

As a co-founder of Tornado Cash, Alexey was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to five years. While he’s appealing the decision, for now, his reality is shaped by the walls of a prison cell.

5. David Carmona

The founder of the IcomTech crypto Ponzi scheme, David is serving a 10-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Ashland, Kentucky. His promises of wealth to investors turned into heartbreak and heavy consequences.

These once-powerful figures are now facing the harsh realities of their actions, spending their first New Year reflecting on lost opportunities and broken trust.