Judge dismisses SBF ‘facts,’ new trial request in scathing order

In February, Sam Bankman-Fried said he had found new evidence that could prove he never set out to defraud customers of his bankrupt crypto exchange, FTX.

On Tuesday, a federal judge said the claim was “baseless,” and denied the former billionaire’s request for a new trial.

It was a severe, if unsurprising blow to Bankman-Fried’s long-shot attempts to reverse a 2023 conviction on several counts of fraud and to escape a 25-year prison sentence.

In addition to his request for a new trial, Bankman-Fried has appealed his conviction and waged a desperate campaign to secure a presidential pardon. According to news reports, President Donald Trump is not expected to pardon the disgraced crypto entrepreneur. A decision in his appeal, meanwhile, is expected in the coming weeks.

Missed deadlines

Earlier this month, Bankman-Fried missed two deadlines set by the court. One required a response to prosecutors’ nearly 50-page letter opposing his request for a new trial. Another required his avowal that he was, as he claimed, representing himself, a request the judge had made after prosecutors noted there were signs Bankman-Fried had received outside help.

In a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan filed on April 22 — a week after both deadlines had passed — Bankman-Fried said he was the “ultimate author” of his letter requesting a new trial.

But he also asked for permission to withdraw the request “without prejudice,” a move that would allow him to request a new trial at a later date.

“I do…