Sunny Balwani: Former Theranos executive gets nearly 13 years in prison - BBC

Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, the concern spouse of disgraced Theranos laminitis Elizabeth Holmes, has been sentenced to astir 13 years successful prison.

Balwani was convicted successful July of 12 counts of ligament fraud and conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud for his relation successful the failed blood-testing start-up.

Theranos executives falsely claimed the merchandise could diagnose illnesses with a fewer drops of humor from a digit prick.

Holmes was sentenced to implicit 11 years (135 months) successful situation past month.

Balwani did not talk arsenic helium was sentenced to 155 months successful situation astatine the extremity of a astir four-hour sentencing proceeding connected Wednesday. His lawyers accidental that similar Holmes, helium plans to record an appeal.

Unlike Holmes, helium was recovered blameworthy of defrauding patients who utilized the humor tests. Holmes was convicted of 4 counts of fraud.

Once hailed arsenic the "next Steve Jobs", she launched Theranos aft dropping retired of Stanford University astatine property 19. The company's worth roseate sharply aft it claimed it could bring astir a gyration successful illness diagnosis.

Balwani, the company's erstwhile president and main operating officer, served arsenic her second-in-command and had nonstop oversight implicit the company's labs.

Though the 2 were primitively charged together, their trials were separated aft Holmes accused Balwani of affectional and carnal maltreatment during their romanticist relationship, which occurred during their clip astatine Theranos. She argued that his alleged manipulation of her was controlling and affected her concern decisions.

Balwani, who is 19 years her senior, has denied those allegations.

"Mr Balwani is not the aforesaid arsenic Elizabeth Holmes," his lawyers wrote successful a memo to the justice earlier the sentencing, adding that Holmes "was dramatically much culpable" for the scam.

"He really invested millions of dollars of his ain money; helium ne'er sought fame oregon recognition; and helium has a agelong past of softly giving to those little fortunate."

The condemnation was work successful the aforesaid tribunal successful San Jose, California, the bosom of Silicon Valley, wherever Holmes learned her destiny little than 3 weeks earlier.

Balwani's proceedings was sparsely attended compared to Holmes'. For her 18 November sentencing, crowds formed a queue 5 hours earlier the tribunal opened, but determination was nary enactment to spot him.