New York – Madoff: I’m Surprised the Judge Didn’t Suggest Stoning Me in Public Square

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    Judge Chin sentenced disgraced financier Bernard L. Madoff to 150 years in prisonNew York – Two years after the sentencing in the Madoff case, Judge Chin agreed to an extensive series of interviews as part of a broader look into his sentencings in Federal with the New York Times.

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    With the sentencing of Bernard L. Madoff only a week away, Judge Denny Chin received a letter from Mr. Madoff’s lawyer asking for a prison term substantially below the 150-year maximum.

    The lawyer, Ira Lee Sorkin, listed several reasons, including Mr. Madoff’s confessing to his sons, knowing he would be turned in; his “full acceptance” of responsibility for his crimes; and his efforts to assist in the recovery of lost assets.

    Citing data that showed Mr. Madoff, who was then 71, could expect to live about 13 more years, Mr. Sorkin asked for a term of 12 years – “just short of an effective life sentence,” as he put it – suggesting that Mr. Madoff might be allowed a year of freedom before he died. Mr. Sorkin also proposed another option: 15 to 20 years.

    Judge Chin says he understood Mr. Sorkin’s goal. “It’s a fair argument that you want to give someone some possibility of seeing the light of day,” the judge said, “so that they have some hope, and something to live for.”

    Judge Chin said he quickly rejected the idea of a 12-year sentence for Mr. Madoff, but pondered whether 20 to 25 years might be acceptable. The judge ultimately concluded that even that “would have been just way too low.”

    “In the end, I just thought he didn’t deserve it,” he said. “The benefits of giving him hope were far outweighed by all of the other considerations.”

    Judge Chin would impose a term of 150 years on Mr. Madoff, perhaps the most stunning and widely discussed sentencing in the history of American white-collar crime. In doing so, he seemed to find a way to translate society’s rage into a number.

    Two years later, Judge Chin’s recollections resurrect all the anger, shock and confusion that surrounded Mr. Madoff’s crimes, and provide a rare peek at the excruciating pressure faced by a judge who had to balance the law, the public’s emotions and his own deeply held beliefs while meting out a sentence that was just and satisfied the court’s need to send a message.

    Judge Chin agreed to an extensive series of interviews as part of a broader look into his sentencings in Federal District Court in Manhattan, which will appear in a later article. “Most judges will tell you sentencing is the most difficult thing we do,” he said.

    The New York Times also interviewed Mr. Madoff, who offered his first comments about the judge and the sentence, which will have occurred two years ago on Wednesday.

    Mr. Madoff, speaking by phone from federal prison in Butner, N.C., said he believed that Judge Chin went along with “the mob psychology of the time.”

    “Explain to me who else has received a sentence like that,” Mr. Madoff said. “I mean, serial killers get a death sentence, but that’s virtually what he gave me.”

    “I’m surprised Chin didn’t suggest stoning in the public square,” he added.


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    21 Comments
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    ProminantLawyer
    ProminantLawyer
    12 years ago

    We are not murderers. They let out war murderers and terrorists early so why not us con artists.

    Different
    Different
    12 years ago

    Madoff has what to say is ubridled chutzpha. He stole BILLIONS, ruined individuals, families and organizations – total ruin in some case where life-savings were stolen, and he has his flippant response.
    It is not as if he did it by mistake, or even followed a sudden urge (not that that would be right, but maybe understandable). He coolly, calmly and collectedly over many years went after other peoples money that they had worked for etc. RUIN, RUIN AND MORE RUIN. No pity for you, Madoff.

    12 years ago

    good think he wasent sentenced by rubashkin judge he would of gottem a million years

    The_Truth
    Noble Member
    The_Truth
    12 years ago

    Now he is living in prison for the rest of his days, he would probably prefer to have been stoned, rather than living life in a hell-hole.

    cliftonbochur
    cliftonbochur
    12 years ago

    I wish they did stone him in public square

    Yitzchok
    Yitzchok
    12 years ago

    Don’t give the judge any ideas. Honestly I think Madoff has suffered enough, what’s left of him? He lost a child< what could be worse? At the end of the day all the people that invested with him will be getting most of their money back... I agree that he's being punished with a mob-rule mandate.

    k9hara
    k9hara
    12 years ago

    let him go free tomorrow. the throngs will kill him immediatelly and it will save the taxpayer alot of $$$

    12 years ago

    “Explain to me who else has received a sentence like that,” Mr. Madoff said. “I mean, serial killers get a death sentence, but that’s virtually what he gave me.”

    Anyone remember a name named Sholom Weiss?? He received a 845 year sentence and his partners got 700+ years, also for “white collar” crimes. Wonder what their sentencing judge factored in….

    deahzoger
    deahzoger
    12 years ago

    well, i”m also surprised.

    Shlomtzy
    Shlomtzy
    12 years ago

    He didn’t “lose” a child: his son committed suicide. And Madoff can only think of himself??
    If he were let out now, he’d be a celebrity and then another Madoff will follow. Let any would-be copycats learn this: steal people’s life-savings and you will die in shame in jail. As a matter of fact, let’s stop talking about him and interviewing him. It just gives him a forum to think he still matters.

    MyUserName
    MyUserName
    12 years ago

    The sad fact is that in this country they value the dollar more than they value life.

    Killed someone? No big deal.

    Came up with a clever way to take other peoples money in a non-voilent manner? Well then you must rot in hell.

    12 years ago

    Actually he’s a murderer as well. Two people killed themselves after learning they lost all their money due to Maddoff’s scheme. Why shouldnt he get the death penalty???

    enlightened-yid
    enlightened-yid
    12 years ago

    Judge Chin was very lenient with Madoff. 150 years in minimal security prison is a joke. Madoff should be serving his sentence at ADX in Florence, CO in the same cell as Ramzi Yousef. He robbed entire communities of Billions and a lived a lavish life. He still spews his arrogance just like he was smirking for the cameras during trial period because he things he is above everyone else.