U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan denied former FTX chief Sam Bankman‑Fried a motion for a new trial, labeling the effort a waste of judicial resources. The disgraced founder, serving a 25‑year sentence for orchestrating one of America’s largest financial frauds, claimed newly discovered witnesses were silenced by the Justice Department. Kaplan found no evidence those witnesses existed or could overturn the verdict.

Kaplan noted the three individuals Bankman‑Fried cited had been known to him throughout the original proceeding, yet he never moved to compel their testimony. He dismissed the defendant’s allegation that government threats forced their absence, pointing out the trial record directly contradicts the conspiratorial narrative. Even a guilty‑plea witness, Ryan Salame, now recants, remains highly suspect, and the court’s credibility remains intact.

The ruling leaves Bankman‑Fried’s appeal as the sole avenue to challenge his conviction, reinforcing the judiciary’s reluctance to revisit complex securities fraud cases absent fresh evidence. By refusing a new judge or trial, Kaplan signals that procedural gamesmanship will not dilute accountability for the collapse that cost investors billions. The decision also underscores the limits of post‑conviction relief in high‑profile fraud prosecutions.