Sam Bankman-Fried Transferred to Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma after Unauthorized Interview
Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of crypto platform FTX, has been relocated from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn to the Federal Transfer Center (FTC) in Oklahoma City, a transit facility commonly used to relocate prisoners. This transfer comes just weeks after an interview conducted by controversial commentator Tucker Carlson, under circumstances that did not receive approval from correctional authorities.
No official justification has been provided for this transfer, raising questions especially considering that the federal judge overseeing the case had recommended keeping Bankman-Fried in New York to facilitate his appeal. A similar temporary transfer to the FTC in Oklahoma City occurred in May 2024, before a quick return to Brooklyn. The scenario seems to be repeating itself, but this time in the midst of media and legal tensions.
An Controversial Interview
🚨 SBF confirms being locked up with rapper P. Diddy.
‘He’s nice.’
The interview with Tucker Carlson was conducted remotely from the Brooklyn detention center on March 5th, the day before Bankman-Fried’s 33rd birthday. In this conversation broadcasted by the media, the former crypto mogul stated, ‘I don’t think I’m a criminal.’ He also maintained that the charges against FTX Digital Markets co-director Ryan Salame were ‘completely bogus,’ potentially motivated by political considerations.
This media appearance was reportedly not authorized by prison authorities, and as a result, Bankman-Fried may have been placed in solitary confinement, leading to his transfer out of Brooklyn.
A Calculated Media Strategy by Bankman-Fried?
Since his 2023 conviction on seven criminal charges and a subsequent 25-year prison sentence, Sam Bankman-Fried had remained relatively discreet. But in 2025, he seems to be taking a strategic turn. His rare public statements are exclusively granted to conservative media outlets such as The New York Sun and Carlson’s show. This political alignment has sparked speculation about a potential attempt to align himself with Donald Trump and certain Republican lawmakers. An internal document belonging to Bankman-Fried revealed a strategy to align with ‘anti-woke’ political ideas in an effort to improve his situation.
As of now, the idea of a presidential pardon has not received any concrete response from the former president. However, the precedent set by Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, who was pardoned early in Trump’s term and invited to Congress after his release, gives hope for a similar scenario for the crypto kingpin.
A Long Sentence, but Uncertainties Ahead
Currently, Sam Bankman-Fried’s official release date is set for November 2044. However, like any federal inmate, the actual duration of his sentence could be reduced based on his prison behavior. But with ongoing legal appeals, political pressures, and media maneuvers, Bankman-Fried’s journey through the penal system seems far from straightforward.
