SafeMoon CEO sentenced to more than 8 years in prison as judge calls scheme ‘theft’

A US federal judge has sentenced Braden John Carone, former CEO of SafeMoon, to 100 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud related to the collapse of the Solana token he previously promoted.

U.S. District Judge Eric Cometti issued the sentence after hearing emotional testimony from the victim and strong arguments from prosecutors, who accused Carone of exploiting investors’ trust while secretly transferring money.

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The court also scheduled a separate hearing on compensation and financial fines on April 23.

Judge Komitee: This is more like theft than fraud. It was not a small loss per person as in many securities frauds. Mr. Karony, please stand up.
You sentenced to 100 months in the custody of the AG. On account 1, 60; count 2, 100 simultaneously.

— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) February 10, 2026

“It was a big fraud”: the judge refuses the defense requests

during Pronounce judgmentJudge Cometti rejected defense arguments that Carone’s age and background should reduce his sentence.

“This was a massive fraud,” the judge said, adding that Carone and his partners “did everything they could to gain the confidence” of investors by repeatedly saying it was impossible to pull the rug.

Victims described losing their life savings, selling personal assets, and fantasizing about property and education plans.

Now a 2d victim, “BP”
DP: After losing money with SafeMoon, I had to sell my car…
Judge Committee: Government?
AUSA: The Government is asking for a sentence of 12 years, under the guidelines. But it is necessary. The defense tries to blame the age of the accused

— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) February 10, 2026

Several of them said they invested because Carone had made himself very visible and loyal, drawing comparisons From the anonymous creator of Bitcoin.

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Prosecutors asked for a 12-year prison sentence, arguing that Carone had shown no remorse. And understand the consequences Lie to investors.

In the end, the judge imposed a shorter but still significant sentence of 8 years and 4 months.

As Sivmon collapsed

SafeMoon was launched in 2021 With promises of long-term bonuses and a “locked-up” cash fund that executives said could not be accessed.

Later, federal prosecutors said these claims were false.

According to the case, the insiders maintained control of liquidity and held millions of dollars, while publicly assuring investors that their money was safe.

Authorities said Carone personally benefited from the asset transfer while continuing to promote the token and denied any risk of being pulled under the rug.

The prosecution framed the plan as intentional deception rather than mismanagement or market failure. A jury agreed, convicting Carone earlier this year on fraud charges.

With today’s ruling, the SafeMoon case joins a growing list of cryptocurrency prosecutions in which courts have viewed broken trust and misuse of liquidity as criminal theft, rather than failed innovation.