Notorious "pharma bro" #MartinShkreli, after making a sob-filled plea for leniency, was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for federal fraud charges related to hedge funds and a drug company that he once ran. "There one person to blame for me being here today is me," a choked-up Shkreli told a judge before she imposed the prison term. "Not the government. There is no conspiracy to take down Martin Shkreli." "I took down Martin Shkreli with my #disgraceful and #shameful actions." "This is my fault. I am no victim here," Shkreli said, before breaking down into tears as he promised his lawyer not to let him down in his efforts to contribute to society. "Do not feel bad for me," Shkreli told a packed courtroom that included many of his supporters and family members. The seven-year sentence was significantly higher than the 18-month maximum requested by defense lawyers. But it was also less than half the minimum 15-year term that prosecutors said they wanted Friday in from U.S. District Judge #KiyoMatsumoto in #Brooklyn, #NewYork, court. Shkreli, who will get credit for six months he has already spent in jail since shortly after his conviction, also was sentenced to three years of probation after his release and ordered to pay a $75,000 fine. The judge had already ordered Shkreli, who will turn 35 on March 17, to also forfeit nearly $7.4 million to the federal government. And she ordered him to obtain mental health counseling while on probation. A psychological examination of Shkreli performed before his sentencing found that he suffered from generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and an unspecified personality disorder. The three-hour sentencing hearing came 2½ years after Shkreli attracted widespread negative media attention for his decision to hike the price of a drug by 5,500 percent at #TuringPharmaceuticals, another company he founded. #Speakin4Myself
