Ex-Theranos president Sunny Balwani jailed to nearly 13 years
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Balwani was sentenced less than three weeks after Elizabeth Holmes, his former employer and girlfriend, was given an 11-year prison term that will start in April.
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Theranos was based on blood testing technology that did not work. (Reuters)
The former president and chief operating officer of the discredited blood-testing business Theranos Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani received a sentence of 12 years, and 9 months in jail, along with three years of probation.
Balwani was sentenced less than three weeks after Elizabeth Holmes, his former employer and girlfriend, was given an 11-year, three-month prison term that will start in April.
He was found guilty on 12 charges of conspiracy and fraud against specific Theranos investors and patients by a Californian jury in July.
It is worth noting that Balwani and Holmes, who the prosecution first planned to try jointly, were both sentenced by Judge Ed Davila.
Balwani was facing a 15-year prison sentence as well as more than $800 million in restitution from the prosecution, while the defense asked for probation.
The specifics of the restitution will be decided by Judge Davila later, just as he is doing with Holmes.
Much like Holmes had attempted to blame Balwani, the latter's defense tactic had sought to accuse Holmes of fraud at Theranos. Neither functioned.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
