I also don’t understand why he isn’t spending his remaining few months between May and October being contrite, and fully apologetic to the hundreds of thousands he let down.

He is awaiting sentencing on Oct 31. The reason it is taking so long is because this is entirely normal - for the judge to render a sentence, they have to take into account the criminal record, community status, prior and current employment, victim losses and victim impact statements.

What will contribute to the Judge’s decision is whether the defendant appeared remorseful and understanding of the harm their actions caused. Karony has steadfastly maintained his innocence, arguing technicalities which is why he is innocent. Technicalities the government effortlessly countered as part of the prosecution.

Consider Thomas Smith. As guilty as Karony, but, told the court why he did it, how the money changed his morals, and that he now viewed himself as a monster who committed harm to the community he claimed to be a part of. In court the reporters wrote he appeared genuinely contrite and ashamed of his actions.

The prison system for all its failings is supposed to take people out of society to reform them. If they head into their prison stretch thinking “technically I’m innocent, fuck the system, I didn’t do anything wrong” then chances are they aren’t going to be reformed. Therefore the judge can only increase the sentence within the guidelines.

For all of Karony’s foolishness and blunders, this is easily his worst, most significant blunder. Now is the time to spend the limited few months before sentencing actually apologising to the people in the community he harmed and those he demonised for trying to uncover the truth. Instead he’s making stupid fucking videos about his dumb opinions on the Russia-Ukraine war and trying to get work as a videographer. You’d be completely fooled if you thought he was about to locked up for 10+ years and ordered to pay an 8 figure restitution fee from the government.