Milken got a sentence reduction for cooperation with prosecutors against others. The other big fish in FTX already cooperated against SBF, who do you expect him to roll over on?

The federal system doesn't have parole, and gives a maximum of 15% off for good behaviour.

He won't be out for ~two decades.

and its not even a true 15%, its less than that

This is not correct. Federal sentences do not have parole and can be reduced by a maximum of only 15%, meaning (if that happens) SBF will serve at least 21 years and be 53 when released.

Milken was released because Trump pardoned him, which I don't think says anything about how sentencing guidelines do or should work.

> Federal sentences do not have parole…

TIL, thank you! That makes me feel much better at what initially seemed like a slap on the wrist.

> Milken was released because Trump pardoned him,

He was released after a sentence reduction for cooperation with prosecutors against others decades before the pardon. Both the release and pardon occurred, but the latter was not the reason for the former.