Binance founder CZ wrote to Richard A. Jones, the judge in charge of the case, on Tuesday, apologizing for his "wrong decision" and admitting that he took "full responsibility" for his actions.
CZ said there was no reason not to establish the necessary compliance controls at Binance and assured that this would be the only time he encountered the criminal justice system. Looking ahead, he hopes to support biotech startups and young people.
In addition to the letter submitted by CZ, there are 161 letters of appeal from his family, friends and others, including former U.S. Ambassador to China Max S. Baucus, McGill University Professor Jeremy R. Cooperstock, Morgan Stanley Managing Director Sean Yang and members of the United Arab Emirates family. (CoinDesk)
Earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice lawyers submitted a sentencing memo on Tuesday night stating that CZ should be sentenced to 36 months in prison and pay a $50 million fine after admitting to violating the Bank Secrecy Act last November. Under CZ's plea agreement, he initially faced up to 18 months in prison. The U.S. Department of Justice argued in its sentencing brief on Tuesday that "the scope and impact of CZ's misconduct were enormous" and therefore "the sentence should be appropriately increased."
CZ's lawyers countered in their sentencing briefs that CZ should be sentenced to probation rather than imprisonment, arguing that he paid the fine and was "very willing to take responsibility." The defense document states that CZ was not aware of, and had never been explicitly informed of, specific transactions involving criminal funds that occurred on the Binance platform, and that these transactions only accounted for a very small portion of Binance's trading volume. CZ is not a risk of reoffending, so he should be sentenced to probation rather than imprisonment.