Prosecutors have just submitted over 200 victim impact statements in advance of Alex Mashinsky's sentencing in the Celsius fraud case. I've purchased them on PACER to make them freely available on CourtListener: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67604619/united-states-v-mashinsky/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc#entry-140
![Hello,
Tanya.Trakht@ag.ny.gov
[EXTERNAL] Victim Impact Statement - Brandon Lawrence
I was encouraged to share my experience and aspirations, a tale that morphed into a harrowing ordeal. It's a burden I bear to this day, and I'm convinced Alex Mashinsky remains indifferent to the impact of his actions. From the outset, it seemed his maneuvers were concealed behind multiple LLCs and obscured within the minutiae of terms and conditions. It's clear to me that Alex Mashinsky was aware of his actions. He took risks like a gambler, using our funds as his stake, and ultimately, he lost.
I had secured a margin loan exceeding $60,000 for a single Bitcoin, which I was obligated to repay. Subsequently, Celsius initiated a bankruptcy filing when Bitcoin's value plummeted, diminishing my claim to merely a quarter of its worth. It was a devastating blow, especially after dedicating nearly all of my earnings for two years to overcome this oppressive loan that was meant to secure my family's financial legacy. Instead, it has become an albatross, a heavy burden on my spirit.
In my younger days, I acquired fragments of another Bitcoin valued at about $10,000. That too was taken. Now, what remains with me? Barely half a Bitcoin from the original two. I'm left to contend with the disdain of my peers who view me as a wastrel, a failure, and my reputation has been sullied. The very essence of cryptocurrency, along with my ambitions and dreams, has been tarnished. I'm saddled with a mountain of debt](/proxy/post_attachment/483529/9a3912a814.png "Hello,
Tanya.Trakht@ag.ny.gov
[EXTERNAL] Victim Impact Statement - Brandon Lawrence
I was encouraged to share my experience and aspirations, a tale that morphed into a harrowing ordeal. It's a burden I bear to this day, and I'm convinced Alex Mashinsky remains indifferent to the impact of his actions. From the outset, it seemed his maneuvers were concealed behind multiple LLCs and obscured within the minutiae of terms and conditions. It's clear to me that Alex Mashinsky was aware of his actions. He took risks like a gambler, using our funds as his stake, and ultimately, he lost.
I had secured a margin loan exceeding $60,000 for a single Bitcoin, which I was obligated to repay. Subsequently, Celsius initiated a bankruptcy filing when Bitcoin's value plummeted, diminishing my claim to merely a quarter of its worth. It was a devastating blow, especially after dedicating nearly all of my earnings for two years to overcome this oppressive loan that was meant to secure my family's financial legacy. Instead, it has become an albatross, a heavy burden on my spirit.
In my younger days, I acquired fragments of another Bitcoin valued at about $10,000. That too was taken. Now, what remains with me? Barely half a Bitcoin from the original two. I'm left to contend with the disdain of my peers who view me as a wastrel, a failure, and my reputation has been sullied. The very essence of cryptocurrency, along with my ambitions and dreams, has been tarnished. I'm saddled with a mountain of debt")