Bernie Madoff Gets 150 Years

Bernie Madoff got the maximum 150 year sentence.

Bernard Madoff has been sentenced to the maximum 150 years in prison for his multibillion-dollar fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Denny Chin handed down the sentence in New York on Monday.

Defense attorneys had sought 12 years, while prosecutors wanted the maximum. The federal probation department had recommended 50 years. Chin called the fraud “staggering” and noted that it spanned more than 20 years. He says “the breach of trust was massive.”

The 71-year-old former Nasdaq chairman pleaded guilty to securities fraud and other charges in March and has been jailed since.

I’m reminded of the old joke wherein the lawyer protests a heavy sentence on the grounds that his client is elderly saying, “He’ll never live long enough to serve that!”  To which the judge retorts, “Well, do the best you can.”

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. markm says:

    …Five bucks says he doesn’t live out his sentence…any takers?

  2. sam says:

    @JJ

    I’m reminded of the old joke

    wherein, upon conviction, the client turns to the lawyer and says, “What are we going to do now?” The lawyer says, “I’m going home. You’re going to jail.”

  3. rpkinmd says:

    Too bad he can’t live 150 years

  4. Interesting to contemplate how sentencing might have to change should the many advances being made in medicine start to actually make it feasible to extend lives by 50% or more.

  5. DL says:

    Does this mean he’ll be a convictied felon and not be able to buy a shotgun and go rabbit hunting, but still be able to vote?

    Will he be pardoned someday?

  6. Michael says:

    Interesting to contemplate how sentencing might have to change should the many advances being made in medicine start to actually make it feasible to extend lives by 50% or more.

    Forced life extension in order to finish your sentence?

    Seriously though, who would want to live 200 years if they’re gonna spend 150 of them in prison? Wouldn’t it be more humane at that point to just execute them?

  7. G.A.Phillips says:

    Does this mean he’ll be a convictied felon and not be able to buy a shotgun and go rabbit hunting, but still be able to vote?

    Yup, even after he’s dead,lol, even if changes his name to Micky mouse and is dead……