FTX’s head of engineering asks judge to spare him prison sentence

• Nishad Singh’s lawyers claim he is an “uncommonly selfless individual”
• They believe he should receive a lighter sentence because of his limited role in FTX’s collapse

The former head of engineering at FTX has asked a judge to spare him a prison sentence, according to lawyers representing him.

According to Bloomberg, Nishad Singh’s lawyers filed a memo to a Manhattan federal judge claiming he deserves a lighter sentence due to his limited role in the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange and “the exemplary life he is committed to leading.”

“His circumstances are extraordinary in every way that matters to sentencing: his personal history and characteristics, his role in the charged offenses, the speed with which he cooperated, his response to the collapse of FTX, and how he has rebuilt his life since then,” his lawyers wrote.

They also described him as an “uncommonly selfless individual” and that his “role was far more limited than any other defendant.”

In February 2023, Singh was charged with withdrawing $6 million of customer funds to Alameda Research from FTX. He pleaded guilty to six criminal charges including fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Singh also testified against his former boss and CEO of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried in October.

Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of fraud and conspiracy charges. Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, was handed a 24-month prison sentence in September. Former FTX executive Ryan Salame was sentenced to 90 months in prison in May.

Singh is expected to be sentenced on October 30.