Madoff Lawyer: 12 Years Would Be Fair

(AP)  A lawyer for failed financier Bernard Madoff has told a Manhattan judge who will sentence him that a prison term of 12 years would be fair.

Attorney Ira Sorkin says such a sentence will not disproportionately punish his client compared to other white collar criminals.

Federal Judge Denny Chin is scheduled to sentence Madoff next Monday.

The 71-year-old Madoff pleaded guilty March 12. He admitted operating a massive Ponzi scheme. He faces up to 150 years in prison.

Dozens of Madoff's victims have already urged the judge to make sure Madoff spends the rest of his life in prison.

Madoff has been jailed since pleading guilty to 11 felony counts including securities fraud and perjury.

[thoughtxchange2]

I vote for the electric chair- of the style shown in the movie The Green Mile. How many lives did this man affect? How much pain and suffering has he caused? I truly do not see how he can live with himself. Hope some of his prision buddies give him a daily screw in the same way his victims are getting the same everyday.

[Kauaiguy]

How many lives has he ruined? How many deaths has he caused (suicides)? 12 years is NOT even close ... and will he be held in a prison cell that everyone else is in or will he have GREAT accomodations and have a luxurious(sp?) cell? We all know that money talks and you can bet he still have a lot of it stashed away somewhere.

[mikekleber]

Have every person he stole money from gather in Times Square, then turn him loose in the center of the crowd. Justice would then be served.

[burneb]

150 years for Madoff seems fair enough. Perhaps the 12 years should be for Sorkoff.

[krzeaz]

Bring out the guillotine.

[stn_sage]

How about a good old-fashioned HANGING?!

[ToolMangler1]

He ruined thousands of lives, why should his be spared?

[stinger1z]

Let him rot, he'll spend the rest of his miserable life in jail/civil courts anyway. I hope he dies on his last day in prison, effectively a life sentence.

[Ordflyer]

SEND HIM TO GITMO!!!!

[Ordflyer]

12 years!!!!???? I can steal 100 BILLION dollars and only get 12 years?????????!!!!!

I'm in!! Sign me up!!!

Whoever (whomever?) said "crime doesn't pay" clearly wasn't referring to billionaire swindlers...

Here's an idea for the federal judge: 1000 years in jail and relinquishing ALL properties of the immediate family.

OR THE ELECTRIC CHAIR!!!!