Community Chat

[Nuttmeg]

@occasionalrain

Bernie stole folks retirement money. He wiped out everything from individual, corporations, and union sources. The government estimates $65 Billion from 4800 clients. 

I cannot give him a free pass to die around his family. 

Do his grandchildren want to see him?

[shoekitty]

I think a couple days before he passes maybe.  I have nothing but distain,disgust and anger toward him, he got what he deserved.  People suffered.  Many are destitute because of him. But IDK, if he was was on his way out the door, let him go home and have his family pick up the rest of the bill. But I am not totally sure

[RoughDraft]

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@JaneMarple wrote:

Am III reading correctly from some posters that it was Madoff's victim's fault for for being duped? His arrogance is obviously still working over time to even request compassionate release is unbelievable! 

Any compassion for his son who committed suicide? Or otheres who died in the same manner because of his greed?

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@JaneMarple  He's a sociopath Jane.  He has no capacity to feel pain or sypathy for anyone other than himself.  Sad....

[qualitygal]

My guess is his final time will be in a hospital bed.  Just out of pain, but his body has quit on him and it's just a matter of time.  

[CalminHeart]

A poor inmate wouldn't get a compassionate release so Bernie shouldn't either.   

[Cakers3]

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@novamc1 wrote:

Federal sentencing guidelines probably dictated the 150 years.......a certain amount of prison time  given for each count on which he was found guilty.

I heard one TV report this morning that mentioned he got that much time to send a message to future criminals, and to make sure he never got out.

His condition sounds a little too serious to be able to perpetrate any more crimes.  I think the world is safe from Bernie.

Former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers just died after getting a compassionate release.   He ripped off a lot of investors, too.

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@novamc1   150 years was the Federal maximum.  Although I don't know if that was a sum total of maximum for each count; I would assume that each count carried its own maximum and all were added together to reach the 150 years.

I don't know if Ebbers employees were ever charged but some of Bernie's employees were.  Bernie took no pleas and it has been speculated that he did not want to name co-conspirators; never proven, though.  I think some of this scheme ran deeper as in underground connections. 

Judge Chin did say at sentencing that he believed Bernie was not 100% forthcoming and was holding back on other information (paraphrasing).

With Bernie pleading guilty to all counts and refusing any plea deals, it does lend some credence that he wasn't at the top of the scheme so to speak.

Add to the mix that not all the $$ loss was declared;  people hiding $$ from the IRS; $$ laundering, etc.

[novamc1]

@Cakers3

Back when the WorldCom & Ebbers debacle erupted, did you see the videos on TV of Bernie Ebbers at a drunken birthday toga party that he threw for his girlfriend (or maybe his wife, don't remember) on board a yacht?

He used company funds for all sorts of things that were not--to put it mildly--in the best interest of his company shareholders.

He deserved jail time as much as Bernie Madoff did, but I agree with anyone who says nobody's interests are being served by keeping these old disabled sick dudes in prison on the federal dime.

I say let them out and die somewhere else.  They are still living off of money from taxpayers as long as we let them stay in there.  Their victims should--perhaps--rejoice that they are being sent off for someone else to worry about, so victims don't have to think they're paying room and board for the bums.

After all, the useful lives of people like them are basically over.  Why should we  be stuck with the bill for  caring for them?

Hundreds of applications for this type of prison release are filed every year,  and only a relative few are ever approved.  Prison officials don't like  to do it.

There has been bipartisan legislative support for this type of early release in certain hopeless situations, primarily  as a money-saving measure.

Prison officials reportedly object to  the idea on philosophical grounds, but I suppose they agree it's worthwhile in certain situations.

The issue might never be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

t.

[reiki604]

Madoff was sentenced to 150 years. I believe that could be considered a life sentence where he would die in jail. What changed?

[JaneMarple]

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@CalminHeart wrote:

A poor inmate wouldn't get a compassionate release so Bernie shouldn't either.   

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If he gets a compassionate release then so should other prisoners with cancer, heart conditions, strokes etc.

[Pearlee]

@reiki604 He changed by getting a terminal illness. Which shouldn't change anything since the judge knew when sentencing him to 150 years that he would die of something within that time.