What happened: A federal judge sentenced Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg to 14 years in prison, calling his fraud "among the worst I've ever seen." The judge rejected claims that Sanberg acted without greed, finding that he personally gained and was "entangled in a web of lies." With his voice breaking, Sanberg told the court, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Why it matters: The sentence closes a high-profile collapse for Aspiration, the green-finance startup Sanberg co-founded and promoted heavily through celebrity and political ties. The court's framing — rejecting his remorse defense and stressing personal gain — signals an unusually severe view of the conduct.

What to watch: Watch for any appeal of the sentence and for restitution or forfeiture terms tied to the fraud.