Ex-SafeMoon CEO gets 8-year prison sentence for defrauding investors

Former SafeMoon CEO Braden John Karony will face an 8-year prison sentence after being convicted last year on a string of federal charges tied to defrauding investors in his digital assets operation.

The 100-month sentence was handed down Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and Karony must also forfeit $7.5 million and two residences in the case.

“Karony lied to investors from all walks of life — including military veterans and hard-working Americans — and defrauded thousands of victims in order to buy mansions, sports cars, and custom trucks,” stated United States Attorney Nocella, in a statement. “Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute economic crimes that harm investors and weaken societal trust in the stability and security of digital asset markets.”

Karony was said to have participated in manipulating the price of the SafeMoon token and illicitly controlling liquidity pools in the failed Utah-based company to drain millions of dollars, according to the Department of Justice. After a three-week trial, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

One co-conspirator, Thomas Smith, also pleaded guilty in February 2025 to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, though he hasn't yet been sentenced. Another alleged SafeMoon conspirator, Kyle Nagy, is still wanted by authorities.

Read More: SafeMoon Execs Arrested by DOJ in Fraud Investigation, Charged by SEC