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Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried arrives for a bail hearing at Manhattan Federal Court on August 11, 2023 in New York City.

Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images

Heather Ferguson’s son lost approximately $130,000 in cash when crypto exchange FTX went bankrupt in November 2022. At the time, Ferguson traveled to where her child was living to spend four days consoling him. Since touching bottom, however, he has shown “resilience,” “confidence,” and a “determination to meet life’s challenges head on with renewed focus and vigor,” Ferguson wrote in a note to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan on Tuesday.

It helps that in January, her son was contacted by the entity overseeing the disbursement of FTX client funds and told that he would be refunded the full amount he was owed.

“I am writing to convey my hope that Sam Bankman-Fried will be given a sentence in the range of 70 months for his role in the collapse of FTX,” Ferguson wrote in her letter to the judge. “The hope that customer funds will be reimbursed in some measures mitigates the severity of Sam’s guilt, and it seems to me that the length of his sentence should reflect this fact.”

Ferguson’s letter is part of an eleventh hour push by the defense to appeal to Kaplan’s sense of leniency as the judge gears up for Bankman-Fried’s sentencing hearing on Thursday.

In November, a jury of twelve found the former crypto executive guilty of all seven criminal counts against him, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud against FTX customers and against Alameda Research lenders; conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit commodities fraud against FTX investors; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

That the jury was able to reach a unanimous verdict in just a few hours that FTX’s ex-CEO stole $8 billion from customers of his now bankrupt crypto exchange suggests that they were truly convinced and that there were no holdouts that needed to be coaxed, Yesha Yadav, law professor and Associate Dean at Vanderbilt University, previously told CNBC.

On Tuesday, the defense submitted three letters in support of Bankman-Fried, while prosecutors filed more than 50 letters of their own, bringing the total number of victim impact statements to 117.

The question of whether FTX customers being made whole through bankruptcy should influence the court’s decision over sentencing is a major point of contention.

Earlier this month, federal prosecutors in Manhattan wrote in a memo to the court that Bankman-Fried should spend between 40 and 50 years in prison.

“Even now Bankman-Fried refuses to admit what he did was wrong,” the government wrote.

Even as the bankruptcy estate promises to pay back customers in full, many of FTX’s thousands of victims (reportedly up to a million) argue that their crypto stakes have been significantly undervalued by the exchange’s new leadership team.

Prosecution in Sam Bankman-Fried trial wrapping up in coming days

Parents chime in

Ferguson was one of three concerned parents to write Kaplan, suggesting that Bankman-Fried’s emotional and behavioral disorders be taken into account as part of his deliberations over sentencing.

“Along the vein of mitigating factors, some mention should be made of Sam’s ASD and the afflictive emotions that stemmed from his ADHD and his medications,” Ferguson wrote. “These are relevant factors in his background which likely caused him to show poor judgment, but did not likely correlate with an intention to be malicious toward his clients.”

Bankman-Fried’s psychiatrist, George Lerner, told Judge Lewis Kaplan in a letter in August that the former FTX CEO has a history of depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. ADHD is among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. 

“Additionally, there have been times when Mr. Bankman-Fried did not have access to the Emsam patch (typically when travelling/abroad) and exhibited symptoms of depression, including lethargy, anhedonia, low motivation, and increased ruminations,” Lerner wrote.

Without his medication, Lerner warned the judge, “Bankman-Fried will experience a return of his depression and ADHD symptoms and will be severely negatively impacted in his ability to assist in his own defense.”

At one point during Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial last year, the defense team also argued that he was not receiving adequate access to prescribed medication, including Adderall, a treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. And when initially remanded to custody, lawyers for Bankman-Fried argued that their client had a “limited” and “dwindling” supply of Emsam, a transdermal patch for treating depression. 

Maria Centrella, the mother of a 34-year-old son with Asperger’s Syndrome, also wrote to Judge Kaplan to share her experience raising a child on the Autism spectrum.

“I have no opinion as to his guilt or innocence under the law, but do want to share with you my experiences with my son that hopefully might give you some pause to reflect on Sam’s behavior and mental state leading up to and during the trial,” wrote Centrella, who says that she was not familiar with Bankman-Fried’s story until she watched Michael Lewis’s “60 Minutes” interview, in which he shared anecdotes from shadowing Bankman-Fried as part of reporting a book about his life.

“As he described Sam I saw my son and kept wondering why Asperger’s never came up in the segment, because those of us knowledgeable about it, could see his behavior, his mannerisms … and his brilliance… as huge indicators of him being on the spectrum,” Centrella wrote.

She went on to say that she reached out to Bankman-Fried’s father, Joe, who confirmed that Sam had indeed been diagnosed as on the autism spectrum and that the court had been made aware.

“I have no idea how familiar you are with Asperger’s, particularly those who are out working and supporting themselves, but I can speak from experience that the mind of those on the spectrum works differently. Though I have never met Sam, I firmly believe that while he may be an MIT grad – he did not fully understand the scope of what was going on and did not have malicious intent,” she wrote.

Matt Kelly, who also has an autistic son and has worked as a special needs teacher in the UK, wrote a three paragraph letter to share his personal and professional observations that “might be of consideration when deciding a sentence.”

“Many of Sam’s personality traits suggest some type of atypical neurological processes; whether this is a tendency to avoid eye contact, a habit of being unable to focus on one thing at a time, or a lack of emotional response in a situation where most people would show outward signs of strain and distress,” wrote Kelly.

“He has also witnessed his ex-partner and associates testify against him in court, and to a
person with unusual processing, this may have been confusing and upsetting,” Kelly added. “I hope that account is taken of Sam’s abnormal presentation in your sentencing, so that retribution is in proportion to the degree of fault, and that account is taken of which type of institution would be most appropriate in the case of someone like Sam.”

Sam Bankman-Fried set to testify at fraud trial in what experts deem a major gamble for the case

MIT roommate: He did communal laundry “on time”

Two of Bankman-Fried’s former friends and roommates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also submitted character references on his behalf.

Daniel Grazian, who graduated in 2013, says that he knew Bankman-Fried “well” for three years.

“Sam was a kind friend and a wonderful person to be around,” Grazian wrote in his letter to the court.

He goes on to say that Bankman-Fried “felt deeply for every living being, farm animals included” and that his portrayal as “being motivated by greed” was “completely inconsistent” with the Sam he knew.

“I believe that if Sam is given a lenient sentence, he will be an asset to society. If the fact that I still limit my meat consumption on ethical grounds is any indication, Sam will continue inspiring others to be a little bit kinder and gentler,” concludes Grazian’s letter.

Another classmate, Adam Hesterberg, who was part of the PhD class of 2018, had known Bankman-Fried before MIT, beginning at a math camp in 2007.

“In the time I knew him, Sam was responsible, was pleasant to be around, and cared about doing good for the world,” wrote Hesterberg in a letter to the judge.

One example he cited was Bankman-Fried’s role in executing house chores.

“Sam did his fair share of chores, usually by washing the pots and dishes used in cooking our meals and doing our kitchen laundry. He consistently did so well and on time; I only observed him late once, when a queue for the washing machine delayed the kitchen laundry,” the letter states.

Hesterberg went on to detail other instances of Bankman-Fried’s good nature, including wanting to “reduce farm animals’ suffering” and encourage his fellow classmates to donate to charitable causes, such as the Against Malaria Foundation.

“I don’t know to what extent a character reference from a decade ago should affect Sam’s sentencing, but to whatever extent it does, my impression of Sam was almost uniformly positive and is an argument for leniency in his sentence,” Hesterberg concludes.

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These EV deals are hard to pass up with leases under $300 a month in February

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February 5, 2025

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These EV deals are hard to pass up with leases under 0 a month in February

EV-lease-deals-February

After a record-breaking year for electric vehicles, automakers are kicking off 2025 with significant discounts. With leases starting under $300 a month, these are some of the best EV deals to take advantage of this February.

Over 1.3 million electric vehicles were sold in the US last year, with new models like the Honda Prologue and Chevy Equinox EV hitting the market.

Honda and GM alone sold nearly 80,000 more EVs alone last year than they did in 2023, while Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Toyota, and Nissan also saw gains.

Tesla Model Y and Model 3 remained the top-selling models, but new entrants are gaining traction, with the Prologue placing seventh and the Equinox EV at eighth.

Although an influx of new EVs helped boost sales, the growth was largely thanks to massive incentives, making them on par with or even cheaper than similar gas-powered cars.

For example, at just $209 per month, you can lease a Honda Prologue for less than a 2025 Civic sedan despite costing over $20,000 more. The Tesla Model 3 is also cheaper than a Honda Civic at just $249 per month right now.

EV-deals-February
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)

Best EV lease deals for under $300 a month in February

The Honda Prologue is listed for $209 per month for 24 months. With $2,699 due at signing, the effective cost is $321 per month. In California and other ZEV states, it’s even lower at just $278. A 2025 Honda Civic Sedan will run you $269 per month for 36 months. With $3,699 due upfront, the effective rate is $371, or $50 more per month than the Prologue.

Honda is not the only one offering significant savings on popular EV models this month. Tesla, Chevy, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, and several others are offering EV lease deals for under $300 a month in February. You can find deals in your area at the bottom.

Lease From Term
(months)		 Due at Signing Effective rate per month
(including upfront fees)
2025 Kia Niro EV $149 24 $3,999 $315
2024 Kia EV6 $179 24 $3,999 $345
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 $189 24 $3,999 $355
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 $229 24 $3,999 $395
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 $159 24 $3,999 $326
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 $169 24 $3,999 $335
2024 Volkswagen ID.4 $149 24 $999 $191
2024 Fiat 500e $211 42 $211 $216
2024 Toyota bZ4X $219 36 $2,999 $302
2024 Honda Prologue $209 24 $2,699 $321
2024 Subaru Solterra $279 36 $279 $287
2025 VinFast VF 8 $279 24 $695 $308
Tesla Model 3 $249 36 $2,999 $332
Tesla Model Y $299 36 $2,999 $382
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV $299 24 $3,169 $431
Best EV lease deals for under $300 a month in February 2025 (*Updated 02/05/2025)

The 2025 Kia Niro remains one of the most affordable EVs you can lease this month. It starts at just $149 per month for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing.

Kia is offering deals on its other electric models, including the 2024 EV6, starting at just $179 per month. The three-row EV9 can be leased for $399 per month for 24 months, with $4,999 due at signing.

EV-deals-February
2025 Kia EV6 US-spec model (Source: Kia)

Although the 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a great deal at just $189 per month, the upgraded 2025 model may be even better.

The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now has more range with up to 318 miles, an upgraded interior and exterior design, and even has an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers. At just $229 for 24 months with $3,999 due at signing, the effective rate is just $395 per month.

EV-deals-February
Hyundai’s new 2025 IONIQ 5 Limited with a Tesla NACS port (Source: Hyundai)

To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is also offering a free ChargePoint Level 2 home EV charger with every 2025 IONIQ 5 purchase or lease.

Chevy introduced new deals on its new EV models, including the Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado, last month, worth up to $5,000 in savings.

EV-deals-February
Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV can be leased for $299 per month for 24 months. With $3,169 due at signing, the effective rate is $431.

Automakers are offering significant EV deals to start the year. However, with Trump reportedly planning to end federal incentives, including the $7,500 EV tax credit, the savings could soon disappear.

Ready to take advantage of the savings while they last? Although we are known for breaking news, we can also help you find deals on popular electric vehicles. You can use our links below to view offers on popular EV models in your area.

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Lectric Valentine’s Day sale offers up to $654 in e-bike bundles from $999, Bluetti power station flash sale lows, EGO Power+, more

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3 hours ago

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February 5, 2025

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Lectric Valentine's Day sale offers up to 4 in e-bike bundles from 9, Bluetti power station flash sale lows, EGO Power+, more

Today’s Green Deals are headlined by Lectric’s Valentine’s Day sale that is running through February 15 with up to $654 bundles accompanying the lineup of e-bikes, as well as a separate 40% discount on its pet trailer. The focus of this sale is on the brand’s XP 3.0 e-bikes that are getting passenger packages to take your loved ones along for the ride, starting from $999. There’s also a Bluetti flash sale on six backup power solutions, with the latest Handsfree Backpack Power Stations hitting new low prices from $199. We also spotted the EGO Power+ 56V 15-inch Split-Shaft Cordless Electric String Trimmer with a rapid-reload head down at $159. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Blix Valentine’s sale offers, the returning low price on Jackery’s Explorer 100 Plus, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Lectric Valentine’s Day sale offers up to $654 in free gear while XP 3.0 e-bikes get passenger bundles – all from $999

Lectric’s Valentine’s Day sale promotions have launched through February 15 with up to $654 in free gear accompanying your purchase. While you’ll find the largest bundles on the brand’s XPedition 2.0 cargo models, this sale wants to focus on spending time with your loved one by offering a passenger package along with its XP 3.0 e-bikes that start from $999 shipped, with the long-range models getting some additional free gear to boot. These aren’t the largest bundles we’ve seen for these models, but they are certainly one of the few times we’ve seen gear included that was intended to help you haul around another person instead of just inanimate cargo. You can also save 40% on the Wag-Along Pet Trailer during this sale at $107, down from $179.

The most popular of the brand’s commuting solutions, the XP 3.0 e-bikes all sport a 500W hub motor that peaks up at 1,000W to hit 20 MPH speeds, which can go higher up to 28 MPH speeds, depending on your state’s regulations. The main difference between the standard models and the long-range models (aside from the $200 price difference) is the battery – which will either provide you with 45 miles of travel (standard) or up to 65 miles (long-range) when utilizing the PAS support. Keep in mind for folks who enjoy cruising with only electric power that you’ll get about half the mileage. Along with the free add-on gear, you’ll also enjoy some quality stock features, like the integrated rear cargo rack, puncture-resistant tires, 180mm hydraulic disc brakes, a foldable body, an LCD display, and more.

Lectric Valentine’s Day sale XP 3.0 offers with up to $187 bundles

Lectric Valentine’s Day sale XPedition 2.0 offers with up to $654 bundles

Lectric Valentine’s Day sale XPeak 2.0 offers with up to $316 bundles

Lectric Valentine’s Day sale ONE LR e-bike with $308 bundle

Lectric Valentine’s Day sale XP Trike with $216 bundle

Lectric Valentine’s Day sale XP Lite 2.0 offers with $128 bundles

Bluetti power station flash sale

Bluetti’s limited 46% off flash sale drops latest Handsfree backpack power stations to new lows from $199

Bluetti has launched the first wave of its planned limited-time flash sales for the next week, with six solid backup power solutions getting up to 46% taken off their price tags. Some of the notable inclusions that are beating out the brand’s fall and winter holiday sales is the latest Handsfree 1 and Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Stations that are down at $199 shipped and $299 shipped. Now carrying $369 and $499 price tags after New Year’s Day, after falling from their original $429 and $599 MSRPs from their launch in October, in the past sales since we’ve been seeing them return to $299 and $399. That’s changing today as they’re dropping lower than ever before, saving you $170 ($230 off MSRP) and/or $200 ($300 off MSRP) at new all-time lows.

The perfect backup power devices for folks who are always on-the-go out in nature, the Handsfree 1 and Handsfree 2 power stations come with an ultra-slim design that fits nicely in their complimentary 42L and 60L backpacks – with plenty more room to spare for other essential camping, hiking, and outdoor gear. With the Handsfree 1, you’re looking at a 268.8Wh LiFePO4 battery (with 300W output surging to 450W) while the Handsfree 2 provides a larger 512Wh LiFePO4 capacity (700W surging to 1,200W). Both models provide five ports to cover your devices and small appliances: one AC port, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports.

Recharging speeds are as convenient as they are fast (good for last-minute plans), with either able to hit 80% in 45 minutes via a wall outlet while reaching a full battery takes a little longer at 1.5 hours for the Handsfree 1 and 1.3 hours for the Handsfree 2. Of course, an outdoor-minded power station wouldn’t be much help without solar charging – with both able to get back to full in 3 hours with a 120W panel (they have a max of 200W and 350W solar inputs). The bags come splash-resistant, with easy access to the power station’s port through the side flap, and plenty of layers of compartments, outer buckles, and more for your additional equipment.

Other Bluetti flash sale offers:

EGO Power+ 56V 15-inch cordless electric string trimmer

This EGO Power+ 56V 15-inch cordless electric string trimmer comes with a split-shaft and rapid-reload head for $159

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 56V 15-Inch Cordless Electric String Trimmer with a 2.5Ah battery for $159 shipped. More recently fetching $179 in the past months, with an original $200 price tag, we haven’t seen the price budge lower since July, keeping to its lower going rate. That’s changing here today as it drops another $20 unexpectedly, giving you the third-lowest price we have tracked – just $10 above the all-time low from May.

EGO Power+ is one of the less-discounted brands of reliable electric tools, so seeing this string trimmer with a split-shaft fall this low is definitely a cause to jump for many fans of the brand. This model provides a 15-inch cutting swath while also featuring a rapid-reload head for quicker and easier replacement of any broken lines. There’s also a variable speed control for the various jobs and conditions you may be working around, as well as an IPX4 weather-resistant build to stand up to sudden weather changes while you’re in the middle of things. You’ll also be getting an included charger and 2.5Ah battery that comes interchangeable with the brand’s other tools.

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Elon Musk poached Tesla engineer for DOGE to the joy of lawyers suing him for resource tunneling

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4 hours ago

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February 5, 2025

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Elon Musk poached Tesla engineer for DOGE to the joy of lawyers suing him for resource tunneling

Elon Musk has poached a long-time Tesla engineer to help with his work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The Tesla CEO appears to feel invincible right now because he did that while he and Tesla’s board are being sued for breach of fiduciary duties and resource tunneling.

Last year, shareholders sued Tesla, the board, and Elon Musk, claiming breach of fiduciary duty.

The lawsuit was filed in Delaware by the Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund (CB&T),
Daniel Hazen, and Michael Giampietro, on behalf of Tesla shareholders.

In the lawsuit, the shareholders argue that Musk has breached his fiduciary duties to Tesla shareholders by founding xAI, a private AI company, poaching Tesla employees, threatening not build AI products at Tesla unless given more control over the company, and for funneling resources from Tesla to his private companies.

Even after the lawsuit was filed, Musk continued to give the lawyers behind it more ammunition by poaching Tesla employees for his many private businesses.

Now, we learn that Musk even poached a Tesla engineer to help in his new role under the Trump administration.

Wired reports that Thomas Shed, a Tesla engineer, has been made “the director of Technology Transformation Services” (TTS), a division of the General Services Administration.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Shed was working on “software, camera and teams that run the vehicle and battery factories” at Tesla as recently as last month:

The report states that Musk recruited several young engineers from his companies and placed them in government positions to advance his anti-DEI and cost-cutting efforts.

In Shed’s case, he appeared to have come directly from Tesla into his new government role under Musk.

Electrek’s Take

I can hear the lawyers cheering from here. Elon’s breaches of fiduciary duties are pretty blatant. The problem is that the lawsuit will take years to resolve.

In the meantime, Elon will string shareholders along, telling them that everything he is doing is for the good of Tesla. I hope fewer of them will believe him this time.

And before all you Elon fans attack me in the comments for simply reporting on this, please provide counter-arguments to the point made in this article. That’s the only thing that matters.

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