Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) has been sentenced to four months in prison. It is worth discussing why the judge gave such a light sentence despite the Department of Justice recommending strict punishment.
In the sentencing hearing at the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington on May 1st (April 30th US time), CZ was sentenced to four months in prison by Judge Richard Jones, which is significantly lower than the Department of Justice’s request for a 36-month sentence.
However, it is worth discussing why he was only sentenced to four months. Currently, according to a detailed analysis of the court documents on social media, three key factors played a decisive role in this judgment.
Firstly, CZ’s voluntary surrender was one of the main reasons for his light sentence. It is worth mentioning that CZ voluntarily went to the US for trial from the United Arab Emirates, a country without an extradition treaty. This behavior was emphasized multiple times by the defense lawyer during the trial and was repeatedly mentioned in 161 support letters, demonstrating his responsible attitude and respect for US law, with the attitude of “cooperation, cooperation, cooperation.”
Additionally, CZ’s relatively low-key private life, including having a son who is currently attending university, helped shape his image as a “family man” during the sentencing hearing. His son sat alongside his mother and nephew in the courtroom, presenting a family scene that portrayed him as someone who values family.
Secondly, the crucial factor that allowed CZ to quickly reach a settlement and receive a lenient sentence was Binance’s agreement to pay a one-time compensation of up to $4.3 billion. This compensation not only acknowledged his wrongdoing but also demonstrated his willingness to “fully cooperate” with the US government.
Furthermore, the influence of support letters should not be underestimated. Among the 161 letters, many come from important groups and individuals in the US who wish to collaborate with CZ, including representatives of the United Arab Emirates royal family and elites from various sectors in the US. These letters not only support CZ but also emphasize his good attitude towards family, career, and reputation, which had a significant impact on the judge’s decision.
During the trial, Judge Jones expressed a deep impression of the support letters for CZ. He mentioned that he spent a whole weekend carefully reading these letters from friends and family until the folder containing the letters broke due to multiple readings. The judge stated:
Additionally, CZ’s body language during the sentencing process also sparked discussion. Whenever the judge mentioned CZ’s misconduct, he would lean forward and nod, clearly showing his recognition of his behavior. This is in stark contrast to the case of SBF, where, according to the judge, SBF’s actions indicated a complete lack of remorse for his actions.
CZ’s clean record and past cooperation with the government also greatly worked in his favor. Defense lawyer William Burke pointed out that CZ has “no criminal history, no fraud, no other crimes,” which had a significant impact on the judge’s decision.
Taking all these factors into account, the judge chose to give CZ a lenient sentence. This also reflects that the court, when evaluating the defendant’s behavior and background, not only considers their negligence but also takes into account their efforts for positive change and the support they receive from society.
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