FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted of defrauding cryptocurrency customers

In this courtroom sketch, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, right, testifies as Judge Lewis Kaplan, upper left, presides during Bankman-Fried’s trial in Manhattan federal court (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

A federal jury convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on Thursday of fraud charges accusing him of stealing about 10 billion dollars (£8.2 billion) from customers and investors in what a prosecutor says was one of the biggest frauds in US history.

The verdict came quickly after a Manhattan federal court jury began deliberating mid-way through the afternoon.