# The trial of Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos)\[sentenced to 11+ yrs, 18Nov2022\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2021, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138 "2021-07-10T04:42:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/813 "2025-02-25T01:45:41Z")
The appeals court upheld the $452 million in restitution Holmes and her sidekick were ordered to pay, despite their argument that having to repay the entire investments of those they defrauded was too much. Holmes and Balwani had argued they should only be liable for the diminution in value of Theranos shares. The court basically said “You think investors would be able to unload those shares after what you did to the company? Fat chance.” > **[Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' conviction upheld by US appeals court](https://abcnews.go.com/Business/theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-conviction-upheld-us-appeals/story?id=119135714)** > > A U.S. appeals court has upheld the conviction of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who is serving a more than 11 years for defrauding investors. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/814 "2025-02-25T03:02:18Z")
You’re too kind. Tell your friends; I’ll be here all week. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/815 "2025-02-25T14:52:38Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I see what you tied together there. Outstanding! No shit, Sherlock. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/816 "2025-02-25T15:38:01Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > [not really a hijack] He couldn’t make any money off of Rod Blagojevich, but he commuted his sentence in term 1 THEN pardoned him in term 2. I think his only criteria is that the person pledges their everlasting fealty and kisses the ring. But Blago did _nothing_ wrong; his was _purely_ a political ~~prosecution~~ persecution; just like Herr Orange’s own situation. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/817 "2025-05-08T23:12:16Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Holmes’ latest appeal has been denied by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit. She can still attempt to get the entire court to hear it or try for SCOTUS, but it’s not looking good. And her attempt to get the entire court to hear it failed as well today. She’s down to a pardon from Trump or appealing to SCOTUS. Given that there’s not really any larger matter of law to be decided, the chances of SCOTUS taking the case are basically zero. [https://www.courthousenews.com/ninth-circuit-denies-elizabeth-holmes-request-for-rehearing/](https://www.courthousenews.com/ninth-circuit-denies-elizabeth-holmes-request-for-rehearing/) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/818 "2025-05-08T23:26:16Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > She’s down to a pardon from Trump I guess she is kind of pretty when dolled up (soulless Great Old One eyes aside) and she’s a fellow grifter, so… …maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/819 "2025-05-08T23:29:28Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > > [@TroutMan](#): > > > > Holmes’ latest appeal has been denied by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit. She can still attempt to get the entire court to hear it or try for SCOTUS, but it’s not looking good. > > And her attempt to get the entire court to hear it failed as well today. She’s down to a pardon from Trump or appealing to SCOTUS. One reason Trump might pardon her is that much of the investigation leading to Theranos and Holmes’ downfall was conducted by the Wall St. Journal, which takes pride in its reporting on the case - and Trump is currently pissed off at the WSJ. Petty revenge is his style. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/820 "2025-05-09T00:21:30Z")
He will pardon her just to be a dick ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/821 "2025-05-11T00:35:43Z")
[_NPR_: “Elizabeth Holmes’ partner raises millions for new biotech testing startup”](https://www.npr.org/2025/05/10/nx-s1-5393950/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-billy-evans-blood-testing) > _The partner of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has raised millions of dollars for an artificial intelligence startup hoping to introduce a product that can be used in medical testing and other settings, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the endeavor who could not speak publicly because the company has not yet officially launched. The company is called Haemanthus, which is Greek for “blood flower.”_ ”A sucker born every minute…and two to take him.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/822 "2025-05-11T03:49:08Z")
But that’s totally different. From what I hear, AI can do anything. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/823 "2025-05-11T03:55:13Z")
That is certainly what Sam Altman wants investors to believe. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/824 "2025-05-11T05:43:56Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The company is called Haemanthus, which is Greek for “blood flower.” Perfectly [good plant genus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemanthus), tainted 😒. ETA: Though I do love in the taxonomy section where they talk about the separate ‘eccentric’ and ‘troubled’ botanists that worked on them. Hey, maybe it’s an appropriate name after all 😀. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2025, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/825 "2025-05-11T16:20:39Z")
The New York Times has an article ([gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/business/elizabeth-holmes-partner-blood-testing-startup.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GU8.MIYl.l542oxJoZHEm&smid=url-share)) about Billy Evans’ startup. It’s starting with testing pets, but eventually plan to move onto testing people. > According to the company’s marketing materials and patent, the Haemanthus device will use a laser to scan blood, saliva or urine from pets and analyze the samples on a molecular level. In a matter of seconds, the marketing material said Mr. Evans’s machine would be able to identify and qualify biomarkers such as glucose and hormones, and deploy what the company calls deep learning models to detect cancer and infections. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/826 "2025-05-11T16:39:22Z")
[![](https://media.tenor.com/sKbXk3XNHksAAAAM/i-dont-believe-you.gif) ](https://media.tenor.com/sKbXk3XNHksAAAAM/i-dont-believe-you.gif) (Billy Evans, not Dewey\_Finn) ---
**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:** [May 11, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/827 "2025-05-11T16:47:47Z")
Perhaps there’s something in their blood that led him to follow the same idea? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/828 "2025-05-11T17:10:39Z")
With Elizabeth Holmes working as a consultant from her prison suite, his startup can’t possibly fail. People will be flocking to invest!" \*though I’m getting “Prisoner of Love” vibes from the original “The Producers”. \*\*instead of Haemanthus, he should’ve named the company Sanguinaria (after Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot), which though highly toxic, is used medicinally by suckers). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/829 "2025-05-11T17:39:36Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > instead of Haemanthus, he should’ve named the company Sanguinaria I don’t practice Sanguinaria I ain’t got no crystal ball Well, I had a million dollars But I, I’d spend it all ---
**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:** [May 11, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/830 "2025-05-11T22:03:16Z")
Reading that blurb, I was mentally playing Buzz-word Bingo - I got lasers and the Deep Learning/AI, so it missed nanotech (I think because even the suckers realize that one isn’t even “in 10-20 years” soon) and a few others specific to medical work (painless, fast response time (though it’s implied by AI). Sooo… I too will pre-judge and say something pithy about fools and their money… ---
**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:** [May 11, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/831 "2025-05-11T22:06:57Z")
I know nothing about any of this but I am somehow skeptical of the idea of scanning the blood with a laser. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138/832 "2025-05-11T22:39:54Z")
Many methods of mass spectrometry (including Raman spectrography) employ a laser as a monochromatic light source to target specific types of molecules to volitize (not technically ‘scanning’ but it is processing the sample to be measured) so that alone isn’t nonsense, and the use of “deep learning” methods are being applied to diagnostics to tease out unusual maladies or early prediction of cancers which might pass notice of the typical physician. It is just the totality of the “Buzz-word Bingo” as @ParallelLines aptly describes it, which makes it clear this is just a word jumble of technical terms that might sound impressive to a lay investor but don’t actually describe any unique capabilities or that are likely to be commercialized in a consumer-grade machine using “sweat, urine, saliva…[or] a small sample of blood.” Aside from glucose testing, which is trivially easy and can be done by a patient themselves using a handheld pinprick device, sampling ‘biomarkers’ (which can be any measurable quantity) of sufficient quality for medical diagnostics requires careful sample collection of a sufficient quantity to avoid false indications due to contamination, and of course some means to sterilize the instrument between uses to prevent cross-contamination. That this announcement is coming from someone with zero experience in the biomedical field and is being advised by a scam artist convicted for virtually the same scheme not only virtually assures that it is nonsense but also puts to bed Holmes’ defense that she was an innocent victim being duped by Sunny Balwani and had no real part in the fraud being perpetrated (although the evidence and testimony in her trial already demonstrated her culpability in that regard). This is without question just another confidence game, and hopefully at least institutional investors will have learned enough to be skeptical this tome around. Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trial-of-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-sentenced-to-11-yrs-18nov2022/946138.md?page=40)