Sam Bankman-Fried Appeals Fraud Conviction, Asks For New Trial: NYT

The former FTX CEO is appealing his conviction on eight federal charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Bankman-Fried's attorneys argue that the court erred in not allowing him to present a defense based on his mental health, and that the jury was prejudiced by the extensive media coverage of the case.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is appealing his conviction on eight federal charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to a report in the New York Times.

Bankman-Fried's attorneys argue that the court erred in not allowing him to present a defense based on his mental health, and that the jury was prejudiced by the extensive media coverage of the case.

The Times reports that Bankman-Fried's attorneys filed a notice of appeal on Friday, March 3, 2023, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The notice does not provide detailed arguments for the appeal, but Bankman-Fried's attorneys have previously said that they plan to argue that the court erred in not allowing him to present a defense based on his mental health.

Bankman-Fried's attorneys have also said that they plan to argue that the jury was prejudiced by the extensive media coverage of the case.

The Times notes that the Second Circuit is one of the most prestigious federal appellate courts in the country, and that it is known for its rigorous review of criminal convictions.

Bankman-Fried was convicted on December 22, 2022, of eight federal charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to commit campaign finance violations.

The charges stem from the collapse of FTX, which was once one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

Bankman-Fried is currently being held in a federal jail in New York City.

His sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2023.