Everything You Need To Know About Caroline Ellison And Her Sentencing

Caroline Ellison has often played a supporting role in both business and her personal life. About three years ago, the talented mathematician became co-CEO of the crypto trading firm Alameda Research, sharing the position with Sam Trabucco before eventually taking over completely.

Prior to this, she established herself within the inner circle of FTX, the sister exchange to Alameda, solidifying her status as a loyal deputy and confidante to its infamous founder and CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried.

Quite The Entanglement

Ellison will be in the spotlight at a federal court in Manhattan, where she is set to be sentenced for her involvement in the multi-billion-dollar collapse of FTX. Bankman-Fried received a 25-year prison term for his crimes and has since filed an appeal.

Caroline, now 29 years old, served as the former co-CEO of Alameda Research, a firm she joined in 2017. For several years, she was also in an intermittent romantic relationship with Sam Bankman-Fried, who oversaw FTX. In the wake of the FTX collapse in 2022, Ellison was dismissed regarding her position at Alameda and subsequently became a key witness in the criminal proceedings against Bankman-Fried.

Some Leeway
Ellison has had her sentencing scheduled for the U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Tuesday, September 24th, at 03:00 PM ET. Ellison pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, along with one count each of conspiracy to commit money laundering, commodities fraud, and securities fraud. These charges could carry a maximum combined sentence of 110 years.
Although she could face a lengthy prison term, it is unlikely she would serve the maximum. Entering a plea deal with federal prosecutors in 2022, Ellison agreed to testify against Bankman-Fried in exchange for leniency. Her defense team has requested a supervised release without incarceration. Federal prosecutors have not specified a recommended sentence, praising her cooperation as substantial and exemplary.

Additionally, many in the crypto trading community are betting on a light sentence for Ellison, with a significant percentage predicting she will avoid prison altogether.