Greebo Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31604191/ns/bu...ss-us_business/ "NEW YORK - 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." “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.” I think 150 years is a fitting sentence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-Mac Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 He deserves the death penalty. At any rate, the 150 years is much better than the 15 or so his lawyer suggested. Where the hell did he come up with that number?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greebo Posted June 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 He deserves the death penalty. I submit that he received it, but without the extensive appeal costs to the state that would have accompanied such a sentence otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake_Ellison Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 He deserves the death penalty. Why? Who's life did he take? Or what current standard of justice prescribes the death penalty for fraud? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-Mac Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 I know, I know. I'm just more than bitter since I'm in the already-heavily-regulated financial industry and thanks to guys like Madoff, we're about to get even more. (Not to mention the many lives he's already ruined.) I guess the most I can hope for now is that he lives beyond his life expectancy in a miserable prison. It's interesting, one of the things I like most about my job is the satisfaction that comes from having close relationships with our clients, understanding what's important to them and their financial goals, then helping them attain those goals. It really makes me feel good when one of our clients compliments us and/or truly appreciates what we do for them. I can't imagine ripping them off like Madoff did, then looking them in the face when they're ready to retire and saying, "You're all set!" What an evil SOB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thales Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 I can think of a few members of congress who deserve worse, since they are running far worse scams, and are having a far more devastating affect on our lives than Madoff. Madoff is their scapegoat. He's small time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc K. Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 It seems a little out of proportion to me. Most murderers don't get 150 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fountainhead777 Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 (edited) he's 71, anything over 20 years is pretty close to a life sentence. Courts like to make examples especially when the size of the punishment is in actuality pointless. I do agree it is not just though. Edited June 30, 2009 by fountainhead777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0918 Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Meanwhile the government continues to evade the authorities with its own Ponzi scheme - Social Security. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greebo Posted June 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Meanwhile the government continues to evade the authorities with its own Ponzi scheme - Social Security. True, but when the Government does do something right, it deserves the credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 150 years is rather arbitrary, or based on mere populist rage. The guy deserves jailtime, and there is no doubt he is a huge looter..But everyone deserves justice, a fair trial and a reasonable sentence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2046 Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Madoff should've just called himself an "IRS agent." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadkat Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 150 years is rather arbitrary, or based on mere populist rage. The guy deserves jailtime, and there is no doubt he is a huge looter..But everyone deserves justice, a fair trial and a reasonable sentence. Not really. Think of it in terms of the value of all that he stole. He was such a monumental destroyer and looter of other people's productivity that I really don't think it's a harsh sentence. Pointless, of course, as he's already getting on old age, but I don't see it as any more arbitrary than any other sentence that has to have a time bound. He's exactly what we need to be trying to eradicate, a person who believes that money is only stolen not made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEgoist Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Not really. Think of it in terms of the value of all that he stole. He was such a monumental destroyer and looter of other people's productivity that I really don't think it's a harsh sentence. Pointless, of course, as he's already getting on old age, but I don't see it as any more arbitrary than any other sentence that has to have a time bound. He's exactly what we need to be trying to eradicate, a person who believes that money is only stolen not made. Precedents have been set in fraud cases of this magnitude before. Usually they don't exceed 10-12 years. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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