Sam Bankman-Fried’s Parents Pursue Presidential Pardon Amid Slim Odds Following the recent pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht by former President Donald Trump, the parents of Sam Bankman-Fried are reportedly exploring avenues to secure a similar pardon for their son. However, the likelihood of success appears minimal. Fried, convicted for masterminding one of the most significant financial frauds in U.S. history, faces an uphill battle, compounded by his past political contributions -.