Sam Bankman-Fried Moved to Notorious Victorville Prison

• Sam Bankman-Fried now faces tough conditions at Victorville, known for gang violence.
• Victorville Medium 2, infamous for gang politics, holds more than 1,400 inmates.
• Bankman-Fried’s transfer follows his 25-year sentence for defrauding FTX users.

The founder of the FTX exchange, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been moved to Victorville Medium 2 Federal Corrections Institution (FCI), a medium-security prison in Southern California. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Bankman-Fried’s relocation on Wednesday. Following his lengthy stay at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, Bankman-Fried spent two weeks at an Oklahoma Transfer Center before arriving at Victorville.

A Violent and Politically Charged Environment

Victorville Medium 2 Prison is often referred to by the inmates as “Victimville” because of its cruel conditions. The facility holds more than 1400 inmates whose crimes range from serious to high-level offenses. The prison facility maintains a reputation for extreme violence because it experiences regular reports of fights and stabbings. 

A prison consultant, Christopher Zoukis, described West Coast prisons like Victorville as more dangerous compared to their East Coast counterparts. According to Zoukis, inmates at Victorville must often join racially oriented groups, called “cars,” for protection.

This environment makes Victorville Medium 2 one of the most brutal places in the federal prison system. Every inmate needs to survive within intricate social systems, where gang affiliation and prison hierarchical structures shape daily prison life. According to Zoukis’s website, a prisoner’s declared car membership is fundamental to ensuring personal safety.

Related: FTX to Pay $11.4B Creditor Payouts With 2022 Valuations

Bankman-Fried’s Adjustment to Prison Life

Bankman-Fried’s relocation to Victorville follows his sentencing in November 2023. The former FTX CEO was convicted of defrauding users in what is regarded as one of the most significant financial crimes in U.S. history. In March 2024, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the collapse of FTX, which saw billions of dollars in customer funds misappropriated for personal investments.

Victorville maintains a negative image, but its inmates possess access to recreational programs alongside educational courses. During his prison time, Bankman-Fried will gain access to electronic legal resources and participate in basketball matches, art classes, and leather workshops. Institutional education programs provide instructions about Microsoft Office 2010 together with other courses. However, the prison’s notorious reputation raises concerns about how the harsh environment might impact Bankman-Fried’s well-being during his sentence.

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