Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, imprisoned in Texas after felony fraud convictions, this week requested the federal court docket in San Jose to slash greater than two years off her sentence, arguing that her work to assist fellow prisoners and herself qualifies her for the discount.
“Amidst the challenges of adjusting to incarceration, Ms. Holmes has dedicated herself to being an engaged prisoner, serving other women, and actively seeking opportunities to make a difference,” her attorneys mentioned in a Wednesday submitting in U.S. District Courtroom in San Jose. “Ms. Holmes’ record in prison demonstrates that she is dedicated to learning from her journey and applying those lessons to serving her community.”
Holmes has “participated in or is on the wait list for every program recommended by prison personnel, including trauma treatment and ongoing counseling,” the submitting mentioned. Holmes has mentioned she was raped in faculty and sexually abused by Sunny Balwani, former Theranos president and her former lover, who has denied her declare.
Holmes, a 41-year-old mom of two, was convicted by a jury on 4 counts of felony prison fraud in early 2022 for bilking traders in her now-defunct Palo Alto blood-testing startup Theranos out of tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars}. Jurors heard she duped traders with false claims about her expertise, mentioned to be able to performing a full vary of exams however solely capable of conduct a handful. Her trial decide in San Jose federal court docket, Edward Davila, sentenced her to 11 years and three months in jail. She began her jail time period in Might 2023.
Holmes is serving her sentence at a minimum-security federal jail in Texas, the place as inmate No. 24965-111, she has already reduce greater than two years off her time period, probably by way of good habits and taking applications. She is scheduled to be launched in February 2032.
Final month, a federal appeals court docket nixed her newest bid to overturn her conviction and sentence, narrowing her choices for early freedom to a Hail Mary enchantment to the U.S. Supreme Courtroom, a presidential pardon, or, because it turned out this week, an argument that her “excellent post-sentencing conduct,” lack of earlier prison historical past, and her non-violent crimes make her eligible beneath federal sentencing pointers for a sentence discount of two years and three months.
“As expected, incarceration has been a harrowing and humbling experience,” the submitting this week mentioned. “But over the two years she has been incarcerated to date, Ms. Holmes has spent her time helping fellow prisoners as they navigate the justice system and prepare for reentry into the community.”
Holmes had a jail job as a re-entry clerk, serving to to “assist women in finding and preparing for jobs and transitioning back to society across a range of areas, including childcare, healthcare, housing, and veterans’ benefits,” the submitting mentioned. “She recently transitioned to a full-time law apprenticeship through the Department of Labor, through which she helps her fellow prisoners on a range of legal matters, including child support and child protective services cases … and domestic violence and sexual assault issues.”
Holmes can also be finding out to turn out to be proficient in Spanish and “has built a set of Spanish-language law library resources,” the submitting mentioned, including that she “will continue to devote herself to criminal justice issues once she is released.”
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