According to BlockBeats, the New York Times recently reported that Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency trading platform FTX, has formally appealed his conviction on fraud charges, seeking a retrial. SBF’s legal team argues that the judge who presided over the case, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, displayed unfair bias against him, which they claim negatively impacted the trial’s outcome.
Last November, a New York jury found SBF guilty on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy tied to the spectacular collapse of FTX in late 2022. The fallout from FTX’s downfall shocked the cryptocurrency world, leading to widespread financial damage and loss of investor confidence in the industry. In March, Judge Kaplan sentenced SBF to 25 years in prison for his role in the platform’s fraudulent activities, of which he has already served six months.
In a detailed 102-page appeal filed on Friday, SBF’s lawyers allege that Judge Kaplan undermined their defense by making “scathing remarks” and even “ridiculing” Bankman-Fried’s testimony in front of the jury. The appeal paints Kaplan’s conduct as prejudicial, accusing him of skewing the proceedings in favor of the prosecution, which, they argue, deprived SBF of a fair trial.
This legal development marks a significant chapter in one of the most high-profile cryptocurrency fraud cases in recent history. SBF’s legal battle continues as he seeks a retrial, with questions surrounding judicial impartiality and procedural fairness at the forefront of the case.
