SBF Seeks New Trial as Prosecutors Reject Fresh Claims

TLDR

• Federal prosecutors asked a New York judge to reject SBF’s request for a new trial.
• Prosecutors described SBF’s legal arguments as incoherent and fanciful in a 35-page filing.
• SBF claimed new witnesses and political targeting, but prosecutors said both arguments lack merit.
• A jury convicted SBF in November 2023 on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy.
• The court sentenced SBF to 25 years in prison with a projected release in October 2044.

Federal prosecutors have urged a New York judge to reject Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) request for a new trial. They called his arguments “incoherent” and “fanciful” in a detailed court filing. The dispute marks another step in the long legal fallout from the 2022 collapse of FTX.

Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York filed a 35-page motion on Wednesday. They asked the court to deny SBF’s latest bid for a retrial. They argued that his claims fail under Rule 33 standards.

SBF did not file the motion personally. His mother, Barbara Fried, submitted it while he represents himself from prison. He is serving a 25-year sentence with a projected release in October 2044.

SBF Challenges Conviction as Prosecutors Reject “Fanciful” Claims

SBF based his request on two claims. He argued that new witnesses have emerged. He also claimed that the Biden-era Department of Justice targeted him for political reasons.

Prosecutors countered both arguments directly. They stated that former executives Daniel Chapsky and Ryan Salame were known before the 2023 trial. They wrote that “newly discovered evidence must actually be new” under Rule 33.

SBF described his prosecution as “Biden-era DOJ weaponization.” However, prosecutors pointed to his record as a top Democratic donor in 2020 and 2022. They argued that his claim conflicts with documented political contributions.

A jury convicted SBF in November 2023 on seven fraud and conspiracy counts. The court found that he misused customer deposits. He now remains incarcerated while he pursues post-conviction relief.

What Happened to the Rest of FTX?

FTX collapsed in November 2022 after reports exposed Alameda Research’s balance sheet. Alameda held billions in FTX’s native token as a primary asset. A rapid bank run followed, and withdrawals froze across the platform.

Court records showed that about $8 billion in customer funds went missing. Prosecutors stated that SBF directed transfers from FTX to Alameda. They said he used funds for trading losses, donations, real estate, and venture deals.

Caroline Ellison cooperated with prosecutors and testified about internal practices. The court sentenced her to two years in prison. She left custody in January 2026 and faces a 10-year corporate ban.

Gary Wang also cooperated and assisted federal investigators. The court imposed no prison time at his 2024 sentencing. He now works as a software engineer at Polycam.

Nishad Singh avoided prison and received three years of supervised release. Ryan Salame received a 7.5-year sentence and remains in custody. He stands as the only former executive still imprisoned besides SBF.

The FTX bankruptcy estate has recovered over $16 billion. The estate boosted recoveries through the sale of its Anthropic stake. Administrators project 118% to 119% recovery on allowed claims.

Most retail creditors have received payments. The estate set March 31, 2026, as the final global distribution deadline. Former President Donald Trump has stated he has no intention of pardoning SBF.

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