Former Pharma Exec Shkreli Jailed for Facebook Post

A federal judge sent former Turing Pharma exec Martin Shkreli to jail while he awaits sentencing for securities fraud. U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto ruled that Shkreli’s Sept. 4 post, in which he offered $5,000 for a piece of Hillary Clinton’s hair, showed he was a danger to society.

Of course, Shkreli's claim to fame was hiking the price of a lifesaving drug by more than 5,000 percent in 2015; since then he has pulled numerous stunts, and was most recently convicted in August 2017 of defrauding investors of two hedge funds he ran.

According to a Reuters article, the judge rejected arguments by Shkreli’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, that the post was protected free speech, saying one of Shkreli’s Facebook followers could take it seriously. The judge said it was a solicitation of assault in exchange for money and not protected by the First Amendment.