Mashinsky’s Lawyers Say DOJ Seeks to ‘Dehumanize’ Him

Lawyers criticize DOJ’s call for Alex Mashinsky's “death-in-prison sentence,” urging consideration of his full life history - IcoHolder.

Lawyers representing Celsius Network founder Alex Mashinsky have sharply criticized U.S. prosecutors for seeking what they describe as a “death-in-prison sentence” ahead of his May 8 sentencing, accusing them of using inflammatory rhetoric to strip the defendant of his humanity.

In a legal filing submitted on May 5, Mashinsky’s legal team objected to the Department of Justice’s push for a minimum 20-year sentence, calling the government’s case “venom-laced” and distorted. They argue that prosecutors have portrayed Mashinsky as a predatory villain, rather than acknowledging his life history or viewing him as a first-time, non-violent offender.

The defense claims the DOJ's submission omits key aspects of Mashinsky’s background, including his early life as the child of Soviet Jewish refuseniks, his service and sacrifices in the Israeli Defense Forces, and his decades of work building companies in regulated industries prior to founding Celsius in 2018. They argue the government’s narrative effectively erases his past, presenting him as “born at 59 years old, a fiend.”

Prosecutors, however, allege Mashinsky orchestrated a calculated fraud, misleading investors and customers while personally withdrawing millions in crypto before Celsius collapsed. The company, once managing $10 billion in crypto assets, filed for bankruptcy in 2022, leaving thousands of customers facing massive losses. More than 200 victim statements have been submitted, with many urging the court to impose a life sentence.

Mashinsky’s attorneys have called on the court to consider him as a “whole person,” warning that language likening him to violent criminals is unjust and disproportionate to the charges. The upcoming sentencing is expected to set a precedent in the legal treatment of high-profile crypto executives amid increasing regulatory scrutiny.