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Archegos boss sentenced to prison over massive fraud | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Bill Hwang was found guilty of fraud in a case that cost Wall Street banks billions of dollars in losses | Bill Hwang was found guilty of fraud in a case that cost Wall Street banks billions of dollars in losses |
Former Wall Street investor, Sung Kook "Bill" Hwang, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a massive fraud case that cost banks billions of dollars. | Former Wall Street investor, Sung Kook "Bill" Hwang, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a massive fraud case that cost banks billions of dollars. |
The sentence comes after Hwang was found guilty of fraud and market manipulation in a case linked to the failure of his investment fund Archegos Capital Management in 2021. | The sentence comes after Hwang was found guilty of fraud and market manipulation in a case linked to the failure of his investment fund Archegos Capital Management in 2021. |
"The amount of losses that were caused by your conduct are larger than any other losses I have dealt with," US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said before announcing the sentence, in quotes cited by Reuters news agency. | "The amount of losses that were caused by your conduct are larger than any other losses I have dealt with," US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said before announcing the sentence, in quotes cited by Reuters news agency. |
The prison term was slightly shorter than the 21-year prison sentence sought by prosecutors, but is still unusually long for a white-collar crime. | The prison term was slightly shorter than the 21-year prison sentence sought by prosecutors, but is still unusually long for a white-collar crime. |
Prosecutors had also been seeking a restitution payment but the judge has not announced his decision on the matter. The sentencing hearing is set to resume on Thursday. | Prosecutors had also been seeking a restitution payment but the judge has not announced his decision on the matter. The sentencing hearing is set to resume on Thursday. |
Hwang was found guilty of lying to major investment banks as he secretly amassed large bets on several companies. | Hwang was found guilty of lying to major investment banks as he secretly amassed large bets on several companies. |
When Archegos was unable to repay its lenders, it prompted a mass sell-off of stocks and the fund quickly collapsed in less than a week, making it one of the largest hedge fund collapses since the 2008 financial crisis. | When Archegos was unable to repay its lenders, it prompted a mass sell-off of stocks and the fund quickly collapsed in less than a week, making it one of the largest hedge fund collapses since the 2008 financial crisis. |
Among the major banks that suffered huge losses as a result of Archegos' implosion were Credit Suisse, which has since become a part of UBS, Japan's Nomura and Morgan Stanley. | Among the major banks that suffered huge losses as a result of Archegos' implosion were Credit Suisse, which has since become a part of UBS, Japan's Nomura and Morgan Stanley. |
Hwang's lawyers had called for him not to be punished, citing his Christian faith and his donations to charity. | Hwang's lawyers had called for him not to be punished, citing his Christian faith and his donations to charity. |
They also said his wealth, which at one point was valued at an estimated $30bn (£23.7bn), had fallen to an estimated $55m. | They also said his wealth, which at one point was valued at an estimated $30bn (£23.7bn), had fallen to an estimated $55m. |
The judge called the requests for leniency "utterly ridiculous" due to the money involved and compared Hwang to the disgraced founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, who received a 25-year sentence for fraud last year, according to Bloomberg. | The judge called the requests for leniency "utterly ridiculous" due to the money involved and compared Hwang to the disgraced founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, who received a 25-year sentence for fraud last year, according to Bloomberg. |
Hwang's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BBC. | Hwang's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BBC. |
Hwang's deputy at Archegos and co-defendant, Patrick Halligan, who was also found guilty on three criminal charges at the same trial, is set to be sentenced at a hearing scheduled for 27 January. | Hwang's deputy at Archegos and co-defendant, Patrick Halligan, who was also found guilty on three criminal charges at the same trial, is set to be sentenced at a hearing scheduled for 27 January. |
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