Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes Convicted of Fraud

After a week of deliberation, a jury returned a guilty verdict on four charges related to wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

amanda heidt
| 4 min read
A Theranos sign outside the company's headquarters

©iStock.com, JasonDoiy

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Update (November 21): Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced to just over 11 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding Theranos investors, The New York Times reports. Holmes, who plans to appeal her sentencing, must surrender to custody by April 27, 2023.

Update (July 7): Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani was convicted today on 12 counts of fraud related to his role in the Theranos scandal, a verdict more severe than that handed down to the company’s founder, Elizabeth Holmes, The New York Times reports. Balwani is expected to appeal.

Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of the blood testing company Theranos, was found guilty yesterday (January 3) of fraud, the latest development in a headline-grabbing saga that has spanned nearly two decades and been the subject of a book, a podcast, and a documentary. Her trial, held over almost four months in San Jose, California, was seen as ...

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Meet the Author

  • amanda heidt

    Amanda Heidt

    Amanda was an associate editor at The Scientist, where she oversaw the Scientist to Watch, Foundations, and Short Lit columns. When not editing, she produced original reporting for the magazine and website. Amanda has a master's in marine science from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and a master's in science communication from UC Santa Cruz.
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