Martin Shkreli.
JAIL.
The 34-year-old convicted fraudster and former pharmaceutical entrepreneur has been ordered to spend time behind bars, after a US judge ruled that one Shkreli’s recent Facebook posts violated the conditions of his US $5 million bail.
Shkreli, who was found guilty last month of defrauding investors of two hedge funds he operated, had been bailed while awaiting sentencing. In that time, he issued a very dumb Facebook post, offering a US $5,000 bounty to anyone who could find him a strand of Hillary Clinton’s hair.
The post, which insinuated Shkreli was attempting to compile a DNA sample of the former Democratic presidential candidate, attracted the attention of the Secret Service.
US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto also took it pretty seriously, and today found the post represented a legitimate threat to the public. Presiding over the court today, Matsumoto said “there has been a danger presented through this post”, and ordered Shkreli to be remanded.
After making his insane FB proclamation, Shkreli apologised to Matsumoto for his “awkward attempt at humor.”
Shkreli’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman had also argued that “his constitutionally-protected political hyperbole does not rise to the level of making a ‘danger to the community’ when he is not and has never been considered to be a danger.”
However, other high-profile lawyers have also commented on the case. Speaking to CNBC, Gerald Lefcourt said “I think the judge is probably at wit’s end” with Shkreli’s ongoing BS.
As it stands, the ‘pharma bro’ is deadset going to the slammer while he awaits sentencing over the fraud and conspiracy charges. Worst case scenario for him: up to 20 years in prison.
