SBF almost broke ‘security’ at Brooklyn prison, ex-inmate recalls

Sam Bankman-Fried reportedly worried for his safety during his pretrial detention at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center and even considered paying another inmate for “protection.”

Gene Borrello, a New York civil rights activist-turned-whistleblower, spent time with Bankman-Fried in the lead-up to the trial, according to a Nov. 30 interview with crypto blogger Tiffany Fong. SBF said he was “out of his body” in prison and worried for his safety.

I had the opportunity to interview former law enforcement officer Gene Borrello, who was incarcerated with Sam Bankman-Fried. Jin told me that SBF was suicidal, he had been robbed and hadn't eaten or showered in days. We also discuss how Sam spends his time in prison, bullying, punishment and more. pic.twitter.com/nszTXVUrSQ

— Tiffany Fong (@TiffanyFong_) November 30, 2023

When Borello was there, other inmates saw the former crypto mogul as a shyster with an “80-year-old body” and assumed he could make money.

“He has the body of an 80-year-old man. He has no shape to him, you know what I mean? ”

According to Borello, an inmate allegedly tried to scare Bankman-Fried into taking defense money.

“[The other prisoner] Sam Bankman wanted him to feel like, ‘This is dangerous here, you need protection,'” he recalled.

However, Banman-Fried was housed in a section at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center that separates wealthy individuals and government collaborators from the general prison population, Borrello said.

“I keep saying: ‘It's not dangerous here. You don't need protection. Don't worry about it. You don't have to pay anything to anyone. Don't kiss these naughty boys.

Borello encounters another inmate, leading to a fight. Both are in the prison's special housing — solitary confinement — and Borello said he spent 80 days there.

“When he talks to you, he keeps his head down, he's very shy, he's very nervous,” Borello recalled telling Bankman Fried. He also said he asked the former billionaire what he splashed his money on.

“What are you doing with the money? What watch did you have?' He said, ‘I had an Apple Watch,'” Borrello said. “What kind of car did you drive?” I told him. He said: ‘2020 Toyota Camry'.

“My friends and I would go, ‘So why did you steal the money? Do you want to see it?'

Borello commented that Banman-Fried “can't get into the regulatory crowd” because of his perceived wealth — estimated at $26 billion at its peak — and others will try to exploit him again.

SBF didn't know ‘how much trouble' he had

Borello recounts his conversation with Bankman-Fried; He believed that he “didn't have much time.”

“He didn't realize how much trouble he was in,” Borello said. “We were trying to explain to him that this is the feds, you've stolen billions of dollars. […] He didn't realize how messed up it was until we started taking it apart.”

Borrello said Banman-Fried admitted he was more concerned about prison than the case and that he would spend 20 years behind bars.

“We saw him as crazy. I tried to explain to him, you never see the outside. “

On November 2, Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven counts of money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy and faces a maximum sentence of 115 years in prison. The sentencing is set for March 28, and the lawyers are expected to appeal.

Related: Crypto exchange FTX receives criticism for selling $873M in assets to pay off creditors

Borrello also said he tried to warn Banman-Fried that New York Judge Louis Kaplan was the “strictest judge in the Southern District” presiding over their case.

In most cases, juries go along with prosecutors' sentencing decisions — which, even in Bankman-Fried's case — “could be something out of this world,” Borrello said.

He added: “I think it's ridiculous that he's had so much time. “There is no reason to give the man a hundred years. That's just crazy.”

Borello called the Bankman-Fried situation a “matter of honor” that every prosecutor wants to share as they seek to become “judges, politicians, analysts.” [and] Big time federal lawyers.

“All they care about is honor. It's a matter of honor. So he's angry.”

Magazine: Tiffany Fong Burns Celsius, FTX and NY Post: Hall of Flame.