What are your thoughts on Bernie Madoff's 150-year prison sentence?

July 2, 2009 3:55 PM
joan h. Cloquet, MN  

He, along with his sons, wife and those on his payroll that were earning millions of dollars are as guilty as he is, and should spend time in prison. I believe the sentence was just. joan h, cloquet, MN

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July 2, 2009 6:01 AM
louis n. Minneapolis, MN  

Terry H, right on, buddy.

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July 1, 2009 9:28 PM
louis n. Minneapolis, MN  

Terry H, right on, buddy.

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July 1, 2009 8:44 PM
lois j. Duluth, MN  

How can punishment of any kind bring solace to so many people who trusted him. About the 150 years, he will never enjoy life as he knew it,no more european trips, fine food, tailored suits and his lavish lifestyle. The 150 years are symbolic of LIFE IS OVER MADE-OFF.

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July 1, 2009 9:27 AM
Terry H. Duluth, MN  

Madoff should not go to prison. Madoff should be forced to live in an crappy two bedroom apt with three roommates, one of which is a slob and a mooch. He is new job will be working at a retail store for about 7.00/hour which is across the city and four bus transfers away, which means he has to get up and get ready by 6am to be at work for an 830 am shift to about 5pm, where he gets an half-hour lunch break (most of it spent either scrounging up your meal or cooking your meal). Then he will leave to go home and arrive around 7 or so. Accidentally twists his ankle outside the front doors to his work and off the clock. Because he makes just enough so that he doesn't get state health care, and the company health care costs equal to one of his paychecks, he is stuck with a lot of over the counter pain killers and web md (he goes to the library).

Since he lives in MN, his renter's rebate check was cut enough to go from catching up on the bills time to catching up on the bill time with enough to go out to eat at the lovely McDonald's a few blocks away. His vehicle hasn't work since the last March, but the tabs have expired and he got a ticket for it. He has a land line phone, because the cost is too much for either a cell phone or a pre paid one (he has a pre paid, but he ran out of minutes), He mostly eats pizza (because one pizza can last three meals), mac and cheese (relatively cheap if don't forget the milk or butter while making it which you will), hot dogs (dollar per pack of 10, cant go wrong), McDonalds because the dollar menu is a relief until they started to charge more, so you back ramen noodles (which is not food). Then the prison system will do a monthly check on his psychological needs, don't forget the ankle bracelet too with his DTV channels which range to around 8 channels.

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July 1, 2009 4:04 AM
Jim J. Duluth, MN  

Hugh j, here are the numbers in the Madoff fraud. The court-appointed trustee has recovered just $1.2 billion of the $13.2 billion in estimated net losses suffered by investors since December 1995. Madoff customers believe their claims should be based on what was shown on their November 2008 account statements, which reflected balances of nearly $65 billion. Madoff was ordered to give up his interests in all property amounting to $171 billion. The forfeiture represents the total amount that could be connected to Madoff’s fraud, not the amount stolen or lost. When you think of that $171 billion, remember that Madoff doesn't have that money, only $1.2 billion has been recovered. It's a figure based upon what the feds feel are the damages and collecting it is just wishful thinking. Madoff’s wife kept $2.5 million in cash in an agreement reached with federal prosecutors.

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June 30, 2009 1:12 PM
Hugh j. St. Paul/Woodbury, MN  

How can the Fed seize $171 BILLION worth of assets from him and then say that most of his victims are out of luck? He is only accused of stealing $61 billion. So the Fed steals the additional $110B to pay for Obama's programs? I don't get it.

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June 30, 2009 10:30 AM
Nicole K. Duluth, MN  

I mean * who else is floating in money *

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June 30, 2009 8:36 AM
Nicole K. Duluth, MN  

I never did believe that the reason for this economy's crisis was ppl taking out to much money on their homes and not able to pay it back.....I knew there was a culprit that had his pockets stuff with all this "missing cash"....there's more where that came from...who is is floating in money?

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June 30, 2009 7:47 AM
Dianne B. Duluth, MN  

I think it is the right sentence. They do have to do something to the members of SEC who would not listen to warnings about him. They deserve to loose their jobs.


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