# Sam Bankman convicted 2023-11-02 (was living with parents, then jail). Is BTC and cryptocurrency busted too? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019 "2022-12-23T20:10:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/101 "2023-08-15T11:03:46Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Gold has the advantage of not tarnishing, I think this is why it has always been more desirable for ornaments than copper. It’s also why it’s currently more desirable for electrical connectors. But yes, that’s also the scarcity factor. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/102 "2023-08-23T13:18:14Z")
Sad tale of woe! > **[Sam Bankman-Fried living off ‘bread and water’ in prison, lawyer says](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/22/sam-bankman-fried-prison-vegan-diet-lawyer)** > > Founder of FTX not being provided with a vegan diet and not being given Adderall needed to manage his ADHD attorney tells judge ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/103 "2023-08-23T13:54:53Z")
If he’s not being given the medicine he needs to treat his illness, then it is sad. Same with not accommodating his dietary choices. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/104 "2023-08-23T14:35:26Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Same with not accommodating his dietary choices. I don’t think accomidating non-medical (and, very grudgingly, religious) “dietary choices” should be a priority for prisons. Want only kale and mung beans? Tough shit. Want only Taco Bell and Burger King? Tough shit. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/105 "2023-08-23T17:08:30Z")
Less we go down a side-road on the American Prison system (and apparently this one in particular) I am simultaneously glad to see SBF is getting the absolute equal treatment under the law that is far too often lacking in high-profile and wealthy criminals, and sad to see the low standards of said equal treatment. But this sort of thing (IMHO) illustrates why we have so many blind financial criminals and cons - they believe, with good evidence, that even if something goes wrong (not that the believe it will) that their won’t be any _real_ consequences for them. And often, they’re right - SBF would be sitting in comfy confinement if they could have just stopped trying to game the system and left it to the lawyers. But you rarely get to these positions without some degree of invincible belief in your own superiority. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/106 "2023-08-23T20:11:11Z")
So, if SBF converts to Jainism can he demand a vegan diet for religious reasons? (really asking…I have no idea) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/107 "2023-10-02T19:45:26Z")
I would expect the substantial majority of food offered in prisons is vegan: potatoes are very cheap–while meat is very expensive. > **[Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial is about to start. Here's what you need to...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/02/investing/sbf-trial-preview/index.html)** > > Eleven months ago, Sam Bankman-Fried was living in the Bahamas as a crypto superstar, running a celebrity-backed startup, surrounded by fans and friends who believed he was the real deal: An MIT math whiz. A visionary who ditched the Wall Street... > **[It's not just FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried. His parents also face legal trouble](https://www.npr.org/2023/10/02/1200764160/sam-bankman-fried-sbf-parents-ftx-crypto-collapse-trial-stanford-law-school)** > > FTX's lawyers allege Sam Bankman-Fried's mom and dad helped shape their son's crypto empire and received millions of dollars worth of gifts and benefits from the now-bankrupt company. > **[The Trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, Explained](https://www.wired.com/story/sam-bankman-fried-trial-explained/)** > > White-collar defendants use three main defenses: “It wasn’t me, I didn’t mean it, and the people that say I did are lying.” FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried is likely to go for “I didn’t mean it,” experts say. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/108 "2023-10-02T20:54:37Z")
An interesting side note to all of this: I was really looking forward to the new book about Sam by Michael Lewis that comes out Oct. 3. Since he had extensive access from well before the collapse, I thought it would be a great inside look at a giant scam. I watched Lewis’s 60 Minutes interview last night and was flabbergasted. He seems to have completely bought into the “Sam is a genius and the future of finance” hype. He still doesn’t believe Sam did anything wrong (except maybe a few regulatory errors), and thinks that he had a sound business model that was done in by a “run on the bank”. I’m thinking that Sam must have some incredible charisma or persuasive ability to still have someone completely fooled. I’m not sure if I still want to read the book, although I probably will just to see how deep the delusion goes. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/109 "2023-10-02T21:02:13Z")
Well shit. I’m a big fan of Michael Lewis and preordered the Kindle version. I hope that I’m not disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/110 "2023-10-03T00:57:48Z")
I’ve read some of Michael Lewis’ books and articles and enjoyed them. I’m surprised to hear that he seems to have bought into Bankman-Fried’s story. FYI, here is a [gift link to the New York Times review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/02/books/review/going-infinite-michael-lewis.html?unlocked_article_code=9aDCgbjovSaD7IjgOPAdR3To19C0Qq_GtpPVg142KqyN5pnuWeBJBir6gqXq1no9JMlovNRdFhuYsChdGrhcZTOCrDYCx6Dklhk1ht9RdR_-cXXaVl5Ntv-HW1BU1VICpLzcVQWEVMYMfiJBC6Z1FLHYUGOniF4Ei5Tw8Apqn-FPQI3o0j_ozIkj4kVw-3r9bfBlZXYL7HvMMhoyrrlqk7bTogw43gC74N6FGqB657EPXFp8xlVFrP5YNxfabFCF15yHfE8oyvR09J-2tLY3nmx6y_5ct1V7opKfg9tz5BGjwl2lEVPfeMf52X9oMQUT9KEHryA6AysLcIKMsMgBTFpZ-x4fiQuPcw&smid=url-share) of the book. The review makes it clear that Lewis did start off buying Bankman-Fried’s story, until of course it all came crashing down. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/111 "2023-10-03T01:12:46Z")
If so, he was far from the only one. The biggest thing about billionaire tycoon conmen? … They might not be good at business, but they’re real good at conning. For awhile. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/112 "2023-10-03T12:06:05Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I would expect the substantial majority of food offered in prisons is vegan: potatoes are very cheap–while meat is very expensive. But cooking everything on the same grill is cheaper than cleaning up the meat scrupulously before cooking the potatoes. And vegan food isn’t just “remove the meat”. You have to add lentils, etc. Even vegans need some protein sources. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/113 "2023-10-04T18:18:13Z")
They have already compiled the jury and started the trial. I’m surprised that they were able to get the jury so quickly. My stupid little battery case (as a juror) took longer. The defense is arguing incompetence. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/114 "2023-10-04T18:41:17Z")
I like how when he was still a multi-billionaire, he was a genius (as in [this Forbes story](https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenehrlich/2021/10/06/the-richest-under-30-in-the-world-all-thanks-to-crypto/?sh=666b72123f4d)), but now that the house of cards crashed, his defense is that he’s an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/115 "2023-10-06T00:23:44Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I like how when he was still a multi-billionaire, he was a genius (as in [this Forbes story](https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenehrlich/2021/10/06/the-richest-under-30-in-the-world-all-thanks-to-crypto/?sh=666b72123f4d)), but now that the house of cards crashed, his defense is that he’s an idiot. That’s always my defense. With my wife anyway ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/116 "2023-10-16T20:54:31Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But cooking everything on the same grill is cheaper than cleaning up the meat scrupulously before cooking the potatoes. And vegan food isn’t just “remove the meat”. You have to add lentils, etc. Even vegans need some protein sources. That, and also even meatless meals are often not vegan. If that big pot of mashed potatoes already has butter mixed in, it’s not vegan any more. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/117 "2023-10-16T21:33:41Z")
Or margerine with some butter solids. Or cooked on a grill that was also used to cook meat. I doubt it’s possible to get vegan food in most prisons. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/118 "2023-10-17T00:16:47Z")
It is possible to get lots of cheap starchy badly made food though. As long as that’s the diet this snowflake craves, he’s gonna be happy. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/119 "2023-10-17T11:56:44Z")
Prisons have a commissary where inmates can buy food and other stuff. General population inmates may spend up to $360 per month in federal prisons. Sam is not going to have any problem getting this much money (from his parents for example). So Sam can supplement his diet here. > **[Inmate Canteen | Inmate Commissary Items](https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/prison-life/first-day-in-prison/inmate-canteen-prison-commissary/)** > > Want to learn more about inmate canteens? Here we explain everything you need to know about inmate commissary and what you can buy in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019/120 "2023-10-17T13:18:05Z")
I read the section about greeting your cellmate. If they tell me I’m the wrong race to live in a cell, I need to go talk to an inmate shot caller who looks like me to be assigned a good cell. In this article prison administration isn’t involved in where people live in a unit. They must accept it’s easiest to let inmates handle it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-bankman-convicted-2023-11-02-was-living-with-parents-then-jail-is-btc-and-cryptocurrency-busted-too/977019.md?page=7)