Ex-senior executive of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Ryan Salame, faced a setback in his attempt to delay reporting to prison for his 7.5-year sentence. Despite claiming a dog bite as a reason for postponement, a federal judge ruled that Salame’s claims were insufficient to avoid serving his term.
Salame’s last-minute plea for a delay in his prison arrival was based on an alleged dog bite to his face. However, an interview he conducted with Tucker Carlson seemed to sway the judge into believing that he was well enough to begin his sentence.
Convicted of violating U.S. election laws by contributing millions of dollars in previous congressional elections, Salame’s efforts to postpone his prison term were unsuccessful. Originally scheduled to start serving his sentence on August 29, Salame claimed he needed more time to treat the dog bite and requested a postponement until October 11. Despite his pleas, the court denied his request after observing his appearance on the interview with Tucker Carlson, where he showed no signs of impairment from the injury.
Prosecutors argued that Salame appeared to be in good health during a court appearance and the subsequent interview, casting doubt on the severity of his alleged medical condition. Judge Lewis Kaplan expressed skepticism about the veracity of Salame’s claims, noting that he had already received multiple postponements of his prison term.
In a public display of acceptance of his impending incarceration, Salame updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect his new role as an inmate and shared a photo of himself in mock prisoner attire. Meanwhile, prosecutors are also investigating Salame’s girlfriend, Michelle Bond, a prominent crypto advocate, for allegedly accepting illegal campaign contributions from him during her unsuccessful congressional campaign in New York.
The legal battle surrounding Salame’s case continues, with ongoing scrutiny over his attempts to delay his prison sentence. As the former FTX executive prepares to serve his time, the repercussions of his actions in violating election laws reverberate through the cryptocurrency community.
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