David Gentile's Sentence Commuted
Donald Trump has recently commuted the sentence of David Gentile, a private equity executive convicted of defrauding thousands of individuals. Gentile's scheme resulted in a seven-year jail term, along with fines and restitution orders.
This action marks another instance of presidential clemency, distinct from the situation of Sam Bankman-Fried, who continues to seek the President's attention for clemency.
Traders on Polymarket are pricing a potential pardon for Sam Bankman-Fried at a 2% chance, while Kalshi traders estimate only a 4% chance of SBF receiving a pardon before the end of this year. This current low probability reflects a general sentiment that there is little likelihood of him being pardoned by the same individual whose political rival he supported.
Donald Trump has utilized his presidential clemency powers, including pardons and sentence commutations, in several notable cases. These include individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol events, former Rep. George Santos, who pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud and identity theft, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, convicted of money laundering, and reality television personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were also convicted of financial crimes.
While each of these clemency grants has drawn scrutiny, Trump's commutation of Gentile’s sentence has generated significant reaction. Gentile had only served 12 days of his seven-year prison sentence before his release, as reported by the New York Times.
It is important to note that Gentile received a sentence commutation, not a full pardon. A commutation shortens or ends a sentence but leaves the conviction intact, whereas a pardon typically forgives the crime and restores rights.
This particular commutation is notable because it also eliminated all outstanding fines, restitution, and forfeiture obligations. Consequently, Gentile is no longer required to repay his victims or face any further financial penalties related to the federal case.
Gentile was the founder and CEO of GPB Capital. Prosecutors alleged that the company raised approximately $1.6 billion from investors by misrepresenting the success of its private equity fund.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the matter on December 1, suggesting that the case was re-examined because the Biden-era Justice Department, which oversaw the prosecution, had allegedly mischaracterized it as a Ponzi scheme, and Gentile had raised concerns about false testimony.
Leavitt stated, "In short, again this is another example that has been brought to the president’s attention of a weaponization of the justice of the previous administration." She declined to answer questions regarding the victims involved in the case.
According to records from the Bureau of Prisons, Gentile was released on November 26, the day before Thanksgiving.
Trump’s “pardon czar,” Alice Marie Johnson, commented on X, saying, "I am also deeply grateful to see David Gentile heading home to his young children. These are miracles of mercy, and each one reminds us of the extraordinary power of second chances."
Sam Bankman-Fried's Continued Pursuit of a Pardon
Donald Trump's pardons have largely been extended to figures connected to the cryptocurrency industry who received lighter sentences and had strong ties to the MAGA movement. Sam Bankman-Fried does not fit these criteria, given his conviction for billion-dollar fraud and substantial donations to support Joe Biden.
Despite these factors, Sam Bankman-Fried remains hopeful for a pardon. His parents, Stanford Law professors Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, have actively lobbied Trump allies. This includes engaging with a lawyer from Trump's 2016/2020 campaigns and public figures like Tucker Carlson, who conducted an interview with SBF in prison in March 2025.
Their strategy involves framing Bankman-Fried's conviction as a "Democratic witch hunt." The aim is to portray him as a target of the Biden administration, a tactic that proved effective for individuals like David Gentile.
Sam Bankman-Fried himself has increased his social media activity, asserting that FTX was solvent at the time of its collapse. In a recent post, he claimed that global FTX creditors could have achieved better outcomes if lawyers had approved the exchange's sales.
Furthermore, Bankman-Fried shared a prison block with former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence in the U.S. for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
When Trump pardoned Hernández, describing it as an act of "justice" and asserting that Hernández had been "framed" by prosecutors, SBF expressed enthusiasm. He commented via his X account, which is currently managed by a friend.
"I’m so glad Juan Orlando is free—few are more deserving than him," SBF stated. He characterized Hernández as "one of the kindest and most dedicated people I’ve met" and considered it an "honor" to befriend him, even "under the worst possible circumstances."
This was SBF's second post praising a Trump pardon; prior to this, he had commented positively on the commutation granted to Changpeng Zhao (CZ). However, the convicted executive's efforts have not been sufficient to capture President Trump's attention, and bettors also do not anticipate a pardon occurring.