Former FTX Executive Ryan Salame Announces Prison Sentence on LinkedIn After Delay Request

Former FTX Executive Ryan Salame Announces Prison Sentence on LinkedIn After Delay Request

Ryan Salame, the former co-chief executive of FTX Digital Markets, made headlines on Thursday by updating his LinkedIn profile to reflect his new role as an inmate, ahead of his upcoming prison sentence. Salame is set to begin his 7.5-year term at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland. In a unique twist, he humorously added new skills to his profile, including “cleaning and whittling.” This update drew witty comments, such as "from blockchains to being in chains" and “they’re lucky to have you.”

Salame’s Request for Delayed Surrender Amid Medical Treatment

Salame’s legal team recently filed a request to delay his prison surrender, originally scheduled for October 11, citing ongoing medical treatment for injuries sustained in June 2024. The new proposed surrender date is December 7. This follows a warning from a federal judge about potential sanctions for false statements during Salame’s guilty plea. While Salame initially denied any deals with prosecutors, he later admitted that an agreement had been made to drop a criminal investigation into his partner, Michelle Bond, in exchange for his cooperation. If the delay is not granted, Salame will begin his sentence this Friday.

Court Orders Restitution and Prison Term

In May 2024, Salame was sentenced to 90 months (7.5 years) in prison, surprising many observers as prosecutors recommended a term between 5 to 7 years, while his defense sought an 18-month sentence. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to pay over $11 million in forfeiture and restitution related to his involvement in FTX’s fraudulent activities. He will also face three years of supervised release following his prison term.

Incident and Medical Delays

Salame’s initial surrender date of August 29, 2024, was postponed to October due to urgent medical treatment needed after he was bitten by a dog, which resulted in a facial injury requiring surgery. If his request for further delay is approved, he will surrender in December.

Meanwhile, Sam Bankman-Fried, the former head of FTX, is currently serving a 25-year sentence at New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center for his role in the FTX fraud. Notably, he is reportedly housed in the same unit as rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.