The time has long since come for someone to receive their just reward. When the blood testing company Theranos collapsed, its founder and former CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, was found guilty of “defrauding investors” and given a sentence of 11 years and 3 months in prison. The $9 billion Silicon Valley corporation said it will forever transform the way labs analyse blood.
The company’s fraud cost investors about $144 million.
Theranos Founder Accused
Everyone is familiar with Elizabeth Holmes. In January 2022, the founder of Theranos was found guilty of four charges by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Moreover, the protagonist of the Hulu limited series “Dropout” is faced with the situation she feared the most: being accused of making deceptive promises to revolutionise blood testing.
Who suffered the most financial harm as a result of Theranos?
Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecommunications magnate, will lose $30 million if Theranos fails to repay its investors. Indeed, the heir to a Greek shipping fortune and the former owners of the De Beers diamond company will each receive $25 million.
Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to 11 years and three months in jail on Friday (Nov. 17) for “defrauding investors” in her now-defunct blood-testing corporation, which was reportedly valued at $9 billion. Billionaires like Rupert Murdoch and the Walton family (of Walmart fame) were among the investors. Due to Holmes’s behaviour, the group lost a significant amount of money.
However, today, District Judge Edward Davila handed down her sentence for the three counts of investment fraud. Moreover, she had one count of conspiracy for which a jury found her guilty in January. By her conduct and that she would do things differently if given the chance.
Elizabeth Holmes: What do Theranos stand for?
Furthermore, Elizabeth Holmes, who founded Theranos in 2003 at the age of 19, raised more than $700 million in venture capital and private investment, resulting in a peak valuation of $10 billion in 2013 and 2014.
Saying, “I have felt tremendous shame for the anguish I have caused others,” Holmes revealed his inner turmoil. The judge said that “untruths, misrepresentations, plain pride, and lies” destroyed a company with great potential.
Criminal defence attorneys often ask for bail in certain situations
Judge Davila of the federal court has ordered Holmes to turn himself in by the end of April. In all likelihood, her legal team will file an appeal of the verdict. Moreover, they urge the judge to hold her on bail pending the conclusion of the appeal. Her counsel will petition the judge at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to uphold the verdict and sentence in the appeal detailed above.
However, Elizabeth’s 19th birthday had been a few days before. She immediately raised $945 million in funding. Forbes once called Elizabeth Homles, founder and CEO of Theranos. Moreover, “the youngest self-made billionaire in the world.”
Elizabeth Holmes: Who has put money into Theranos?
Rupert Murdoch, who led a $5.8 million Series A round in February 2005; Tim Draper, a venture capitalist and Draper Fisher Jurvetson partner who remained an outspoken supporter of Theranos until at least 2018; and. Walgreens is a large retail and pharmacy chain with locations all over the country.
Indeed, A Wall Street Journal probe found that. Apparently, she had sexual encounters with Ramesh. The company folded once tonight’s tragic events became public knowledge.
Major diseases like cancer, the blood testing business argued, could be diagnosed with fewer blood samples. The firm asserted that its product would facilitate self-medication and reduce associated costs for patients. There were allegations that Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the Palo Alto, California-based Theranos blood testing company, had defrauded investors. Do you have any opinions on this?
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