A newly revealed photo purportedly depicting former billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried shows him sporting a new beard and a slimmer waistline, allegedly taken at New York's Metropolitan Detention Center. Independent crypto journalist Tiffany Fong shared the photo during an interview with a former MDC inmate known as “G Lock.”
Described as the "first and only" photo released by Bankman-Fried since his incarceration in August 2023 for fraud, the image is said to have been taken on December 17, 2023. Bankman-Fried, standing alongside five other prisoners, appears noticeably thinner and dons a beard in the photo.
Fong also revealed an unreleased clip of an interview with G Lock, who had interactions with Bankman-Fried during their time in prison. Noting Bankman-Fried's weight loss and less frequent grooming habits, Fong commented on the toll the experience has taken on him.
G Lock described Bankman-Fried as "weird as hell" but acknowledged his perception of him as a "nice guy." Despite not adhering to regular grooming habits, Bankman-Fried reportedly did not face significant violence or intimidation during his time in prison, according to G Lock.
Interestingly, G Lock compared Bankman-Fried to American rapper Tekashi Six-Nine, noting that Bankman-Fried displayed a "more gangster" demeanor due to his refusal to provide information on others while incarcerated. The emergence of the photo prompted reactions from members of the crypto community, with some expressing concern for Bankman-Fried's well-being and others making light-hearted remarks about his situation.
Towards the end of the video, Fong mentioned that Bankman-Fried's fellow inmates teased him about his relationship with Caroline Ellison, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding narrative surrounding Bankman-Fried's incarceration.
