Ryan Salame, the former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, has asked for a second stay in going to jail, saying that he needs to continue getting medical care. Salame wants to change the date of his self-surrender from October 11, 2024, to December 7, 2024. He is facing a seven-and-a-half-year term. In August, the court put off the hearing until later because Salame needed immediate medical care after being attacked by a dog.
In the most recent court document, filed on October 9, Salame’s doctor stressed the importance of continuing medical care before the start of his jail sentence. His lawyers have kept the details of his medical situation secret because they want to stress that he is still recovering and is not ready to go to jail.
Salame first moved his jail date from August to October so that he could have surgery for the same injury. But the government is against this second delay, saying that there is no need for another one. Even though there is resistance, Salame’s lawyers say that his current medical situation calls for more time before he starts serving his sentence.
Salame is in jail because he gave illegal money to politicians and lied to the Federal Election Commission. This was part of an investigation into how FTX went bankrupt. After the crypto exchange went bankrupt, he pleaded guilty in September 2023. He was the second FTX executive to get a sentence, after Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the company.
Despite being in trouble with the law, Salame has stayed active on social media, where he often makes fun of the fact that he is about to go to jail. During his time in jail, he has said that it could be “exciting” and even compared it to “summer camp.” Even though he said things in public, Salame could start his time in a medium-security prison in Maryland if the court doesn’t agree to his latest request.
Salame’s legal problems are part of the larger effects of the FTX failure, which has left many buyers and creditors trying to get their money back. Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh are two other former officials who are set to be sentenced later this year. Michelle Bond, Salame’s partner, has also been charged with campaign fund violations in a different case.
The FTX bankruptcy hearings are still going on while Salame waits for the court’s ruling. A bankruptcy plan that was just accepted will give about $6.6 billion to creditors. The first payments are due soon.
Salame will have to go to prison on October 11 as planned if the court does not grant his request.
