A federal judge sentenced former pharmaceutical executive and hedge-fund manager Martin Shkreli to seven years in prison Friday following his earlier conviction on three of eight counts of securities and wire fraud charges.
According to reporters present in the Brooklyn courtroom, Shkreli gave an emotional and tearful speech prior to his sentencing, taking blame and responsibility for his actions and saying he had changed as a person since his conviction. US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto reportedly handed him a box of tissues and took a lengthy amount of time reviewing his transgressions and history.
The sentencing caps a long, public saga for Shkreli, who is widely reviled for drastically raising the price of a cheap, decades-old drug, as well as provocative and offensive online antics, including harassing women.
Obligatory Nelson HaHa
Source: ArsTechnica
KSWB-TV reports
He was convicted on August 5, 2017 of securities fraud and conspiracy in what prosecutors said amounted to a Ponzi scheme. Shkreli called the charges "a witch hunt of epic proportions".
During his sentencing on Friday in Brooklyn federal court, Shkreli, 34, broke into tears and pleaded with the judge for leniency.
"I look back and I'm embarrassed and ashamed", he told the court. "I am terribly sorry", he said to his investors, "I lost your trust."
At his trial last year, Shkreli often wore a smirk and was chastised by the judge for his behavior, including for an incident in which he told reporters that the prosecutors on the case were "junior varsity". He also ignored the advice of his lawyer by commenting on the trial via social media and YouTube.
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(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Monday March 12 2018, @04:18PM (1 child)
So lesson learned. If you have lots of money dont go around bragging about it and for the love of god dont act like a complete spoiled rich boy twat on social media. Just commit your financial crimes in silence and enjoy the profits.
Yeah, that's kinda my point here. This guy shouldn't be treated any worse than others who commit financial crimes just because he's a dickhead, and those others shouldn't be getting away scot-free just because they keep a low profile. Justice is supposed to be blind, remember. That's why the statue of the lady with scales has a blindfold.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Monday March 12 2018, @04:29PM
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. We just have to figure how how to make those other wheels start squeaking.