Nishad Singh, the former engineering director at FTX, has requested leniency from a federal judge as he prepares for sentencing on October 30, 2024. Singh is seeking “time served and supervised release” following his guilty plea to fraud and conspiracy charges in February 2023.
In a memorandum filed on October 16 with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Singh’s legal team argued that his role in the broader FTX scheme was comparatively minor compared to other key figures, such as FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison.
Singh’s attorneys emphasized that his involvement in criminal activity began only in September 2022, well after major decisions regarding the misuse of customer funds had already been made by Bankman-Fried and Ellison.
Singh’s lawyers highlighted his cooperation with federal prosecutors throughout the investigation as a factor warranting a more lenient sentence. They noted his prompt response to the unfolding crisis at FTX and his commitment to rebuilding his life post-collapse.
Singh is among several former FTX executives facing sentencing for their roles in the scandal, which resulted in billions of dollars in investor losses. His request for leniency reflects a broader trend among former executives who have cooperated with authorities.
Notably, Caroline Ellison received a two-year sentence in September for her cooperation, while Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years for orchestrating the fraud that led to FTX’s downfall.
