Sam Bankman-Fried Appeals 25-Year Sentence, Cites Presumed Guilt

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), founder of the now-defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange, has filed an appeal against his 25-year prison sentence for fraud. He argues that he was "presumed guilty" before being charged.

Allegations Against Judge Kaplan

• SBF's legal team claims US District Judge Lewis Kaplan pressured jurors and favored the prosecution.
• They request a new trial with a different judge, stating that SBF was never presumed innocent.

SBF's Defense Argument

• SBF was found guilty of seven criminal counts, including fraud and conspiracy, related to the collapse of FTX.
• His lawyers argue he did not intend to defraud customers and planned to repay them fully.
• The defense claims that SBF was blocked from presenting evidence of FTX's alleged solvency during the trial.

The appeal process is ongoing, with its outcome yet to be determined.