Bernard: Madoff Sentenced to 150 Years in Jail - 06-29-09

Bernard Madoff gets 150 years in prison for his multibillion-dollar fraud scheme. - June 29, 2009 -

Historic swindler Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison Monday for a fraud so extensive that the judge said he needed to send a symbolic message to potential imitators and to victims who demanded harsh punishment.

Scattered applause and whoops broke out in the crowded Manhattan courtroom after U.S. District Judge Denny Chin issued the maximum sentence to the 71-year-old defendant, who said he lives "in a tormented state now, knowing all the pain and suffering I've created."

Chin rejected a request by Madoff's lawyer for leniency and said he disagreed that victims of the fraud were seeking mob vengeance.

"Here the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff's crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of manipulation of the system is not just a bloodless crime that takes place on paper, but one instead that takes a staggering toll," Chin said.

The judge said the estimate that Madoff has cost his victims more than $13 billion was conservative because it did not include money from feeder funds.

"Objectively speaking, the fraud here was staggering," he said.

Before Chin announced the sentence with Madoff standing at the defense table, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a tie, and looking thinner than his last court appearance in March. He gave no noticeable reaction when the sentence was announced.

He also showed no emotion earlier in the hearing as he listened to nine victims spend nearly an hour describing their despair. Some openly wept. Others raised their voices in anger.

"Life has been a living hell. It feels like the nightmare we can't wake from," said Carla Hirshhorn.

"He stole from the rich. He stole from the poor. He stole from the in between. He had no values," said Tom Fitzmaurice. "He cheated his victims out of their money so he and his wife Ruth could live a life of luxury beyond belief."

Dominic Ambrosino called it an "indescribably heinous crime" and urged a long prison sentence so "will know he is imprisoned in much the same way he imprisoned us and others."

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• Bernard
• Madoff
• Sentenced
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• 150
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• 06-29-09

[JoeCJK]

Can you imagine the pain of losing your life savings, in which you slogged everyday painstakingly through the years?

Rot in prison you OLD BASTARD!!! Hope your inmates screw you like you did your victims.

[Firecloud500]

I hope his inmates are horny so that his ass is gonna be ground beef before he even rots.

[wojtuniakfrog]

If you want to send this guy hate mail here's his address:

BERNARD MADOFF, #61727-054

BUTNER MEDIUM I FCI

P.O. BOX 1000

BUTNER,NC 27509

[sandcut1]

@JuggaloKaez216 Greed.

[JuggaloKaez216]

what would make a person do such a thing?, i know we're in a recession but damn!

[jeryl1968]

thrue sickness and health ? till deth due us part ? o really ? then they should take ruth madoffs money to and give it back to the investors now living in card board boxes because of her greedy jew snake face husband bernard madoff ? then send her to prison to because if she says shes got nothing to do with it ? shes a liar a totle liar she knew come on ? she was his wife ? hey ruth you dont deserve the money you have and the money you get your a pig plain and simple a lieing greedy pig ??

[haoqh]

he kinda looks like arnold benedict

[Liberty2431]

Watch he lives to be 221 and gets out?

[MOYCER090909]

typical jew

[SillyGrandpa]

Tyco' Ceo, Dennis Kozlowski is the one that really got screwed. Skilling of Enron and Ebbers of Worldcom deserved what they got. These two companies went bankrupt and took all employees(and their 401-k's) and investors down. Kozlowski's former company ,Tyco, is thriving. Madoff definitely needs to serve time in prison till he dies for the enormity of the crime.

[AcrossFromMarty]

CREAM Perhaps he'll be born in ethiopia in his next life.