Sam Bankman-Fried Moved to Violent California Prison ‘Victimville’

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The Federal Bureau of Prison has moved Sam Bankman Fried, the former FTX CEO to a Southern-California prison which is known for brutalism and violence. 

According to a BOP inmate locator, he is now being held at a medium security facility in Victorville, as of Wednesday. Before the transfer, Fried spent two weeks at an Oklahoma Transfer Center. He spent over 18 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, N.Y. 

There is a significant level of violence at FCI Victorville Medium II prison where fights are regular, and stabbings are not uncommon. The facility currently holds over 1,400 inmates which has witnessed serious incidents including a 2013 inmate murder, stabbing of warden in 2017 and multiple assaults on guards. 

Notably, the medium security prisons have a low quality of life even when compared to lower security prisons. The West Coast prisons are often dominated by gang activity and intense prison politics than that at east-coast or mid Atlantic facilities, as per a federal prison consultant Christopher Zoukis. 

As per a webpage from Christopher Zhouki’s consulting firm, Victorville, known as ‘Victimville’ in some communities is known for being highly political and racially divided.  Inmates are required to be part of a racially-oriented car to stay. One inmate even said that a car is required for personal safety. In prison slang, a “car” refers to a group of inmates, usually from the same race or area, who stay together for safety and support.

Fried was convicted on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy, although he still claims that he is not a criminal and plans to appeal. He will also have access to a digital law library, recreational activities like basketball and football, leather working, art and also includes courses in Microsoft 2010.