FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried staying in Bahamian jail ‘not fit for humanity’

The former-high roller, who until Monday was living and working in luxury, is now being held in the island's only correctional facility, Fox Hill Prison, until at least February 8 while he fights against extradition back to the US.

The U.S. Department of State issued a report on the Fox Hill Prison last year, detailing the various human rights abuses that occurred at the jail, including violence and abuse by staff.

"Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to medical care" were just some of the problems that plagued the men's maximum security block.

"Maximum-security cells for men measured approximately six feet by 10 feet and held up to six persons with no mattresses or toilet facilities," the State Department noted. "Inmates removed human waste by the bucket. Prisoners complained of the lack of beds and bedding."

"Some inmates developed bedsores from lying on bare ground," the report added. "Sanitation was a general problem, and cells were infested with rats, maggots, and insects."

A prison guard confirmed as much to the Nassau Guardian newspaper in 2019, saying that "dogs don’t deserve to live in the state that maximum security is in."

"Did you know that rats run up and down all day, every day?" the guard said. "It’s not fit for humanity."

The situation is so bad that some prisoners have begged to be extradited to the U.S. after a short stay.

"Fox Hill ain't no place for nobody to stay in … I am ready to go," said one inmate, who opted to allow for his extradition back to Georgia, where he was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for rape and child molestation.

Larry Levine, founder of white-collar crime consultancy firm Wall Street Prison Consultants argues that Bankman-Fried should do the same.

"There is no advantage to him staying, he'll be sent to the US eventually anyway," he said.

Bankman-Fried is facing a maximum of 115 years in prison if convicted of all eight federal charges he faces. While he has apologized to customers and acknowledged failings at FTX, he believes he does not have any criminal liability.