Key Takeaways
- Judge Lewis Kaplan denies Sam Bankman-Fried's request for a sentencing delay, maintaining the existing schedule;
- Bankman-Fried's lawyer, Mark Cohen, sought the delay for additional preparation time ahead of the presentencing interview and emphasized the need for a consolidated sentencing hearing;
- The government's decision on a second trial for separated charges remains uncertain, with potential implications for the sentencing process.
Sam Bankman-Fried's request for a four- to six-week postponement of his sentencing hearing was denied by Judge Lewis Kaplan.
The request, made on December 20th, aimed to push back both the scheduled presentencing interview on December 21st and the sentencing hearing initially set for March 28, 2024.
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Additionally, two critical disclosure dates for the presentence investigation report are looming: January 5, 2024, and February 2, 2024. However, the government has yet to confirm whether it intends to proceed with a second trial concerning the separate charges against Bankman-Fried.
The plea for a delay was put forth by Mark Cohen, who serves as Bankman-Fried's legal counsel at Cohen & Gresser.
Cohen argued that the defense required additional time for adequate preparation ahead of the impending presentencing interview. He also emphasized the significance of consolidating all relevant aspects into a single sentencing hearing, asserting:
For fairness and efficiency, the Court should consider the relevant conduct all at once in a single sentencing hearing.
In addition, Cohen underscored that, while the defense had reached out to the government to seek its consent, they had not received a response at the time of making the request.
Significantly, this marked the first instance in which Bankman-Fried had requested an adjournment during these proceedings.
Judge Kaplan chose to maintain the existing schedule, highlighting that the defense had not initially raised objections when the sentencing date was initially established.
Nevertheless, Judge Kaplan left open the possibility for a new adjournment request should the government decide to proceed with a trial on the severed charges.
Bankman-Fried was found guilty on November 7, facing seven charges. However, he had pled not guilty to all of them and has consistently maintained his innocence, even following the jury's verdict.
Judge Kaplan's denial of the request for a sentencing delay marks a pivotal moment in Bankman-Fried's legal journey, as he awaits the outcome of his sentencing on the aforementioned charges.
