On Monday, June 29, 2009, Federal District Judge Denny Chin sentenced Bernard L. Madoff to 150 years in prison (the maximum for his crimes), ending the trial to what some call the longest, largest and most widespread Ponzi scheme in history. Judge Chin noted that Madoff's sentencing should be symbolic of the pain and suffering he brought to his many victims.
I applaud Judge Chin and his decisive sentencing of Madoff. He could have easily been swayed by the age of Madoff (71) and knocked a few years off, but he did not. It's good that a white-collar crime be made an example of on a stage like this. Hopefully, this will ultimately bring to light other white-collar crimes that have gone unnoticed thus far. A crime is a crime, collar or no collar. Justice is best served fair.