Alex Mashinsky, the founder and former CEO of Celsius, has criticized the U.S. government's sentencing request for a 20-year prison term, calling it a 'death-in-prison sentence.' Mashinsky pleaded guilty in December 2024 to commodities fraud and manipulating the price of CEL, profiting $48 million before Celsius's collapse in 2022. His lawyers argue that the sentence recommendation is excessive, highlighting his nonviolent, first-time offender status and a clean 30-year business history. They contend that the DOJ mischaracterizes Mashinsky as a predator aiming to deceive and harm victims, asserting he’s being unfairly vilified as a scapegoat for broader corporate decisions. The DOJ’s request emphasizes that Mashinsky’s guilty plea indicates willful deception and fraud, impacting many investors who regarded Celsius as a secure investment. Celsius filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2022, leaving behind a significant debt and restructuring efforts to repay creditors. A sentencing hearing is set for May 8, 2025, after which Mashinsky's fate will be determined.

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