Ahead of the 10AM moment of truth, make your best guess now, Price Is Right style. Closest without going over will receive your choice of either a) a DealBreaker mug or b) a headshot signed by Charlie Gasparino. For reference, prosecutors want 150, Team Bernie wants 12.
Oh, just so you know:
In a letter to the court, Ira Sorkin, Madoff's attorney, made an initial recommendation of a 12-year prison term, one year short of what Sorkin asserts to be Madoff's life expectancy. What the letter does not point out -- but what Judge Chin surely knows -- is that a sentence of 12 years would actually only add up to about 9 years in federal prison. Here's the math: Madoff has served over 3 months already, and under the federal Bureau of Prisons rules, he gets a 15% reduction for good time, which could deduct about 21 more months from the sentence. Finally, under the recently enacted Second Chance Act, he could even serve the last year of his term in home confinement if a pilot program becomes the norm -- leaving about 9 years in federal prison.
Update: Judge Chin has put it out there that the federal probation department is recommending 50 years, without commenting whether or not he feels that'd be a reasonable sentence or if they ought to GTFO.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:40AM
I'll start by guessing 25 years.
~J. Skilling
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:40AM
69, dude!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:41AM
With a statistically significant 425 votes cast in the FINalternatives/Bernie blog poll, 58.8% of readers are guessing that Bernard Madoff will be sentenced to the big house for more than 50 years. All these talking heads and lawyers speaking with the Wall Street Journal have him getting a maximum 30.
I guess we’ll find out circa 50 minutes from now.
Last chance to Vote: http://www.finalternatives.com/node/8337
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:43AM
150
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:44AM
140 years with no congigual visits.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:44AM
@3 we're voting here, but thanks.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:44AM
25
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:44AM
50 billion years
Posted by Clown Capital , Jun 29, 2009 9:44AM
20 years max. He probably won't live to see it anyway...
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:44AM
45
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:44AM
in the butt bob.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:45AM
99
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:45AM
holy fuck I want that signed headshot so bad!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:45AM
29 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:45AM
19 years, out in 12, dead in 12.5.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:47AM
35 years....
see ya in hell Bernie!
CSWTF
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:47AM
How 'bout they just get medieval on his ass?
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:47AM
@6 -- screw the mug, we've got real payouts here: http://bernard-madoff-scam.blogspot.com/
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:48AM
I will guess 100 years.
~Bernie Ebbers
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:48AM
50 years.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:49AM
30
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:49AM
29 yrs...
tf1
Posted by merkin capital partners , Jun 29, 2009 9:49AM
30
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:50AM
Time served. Please, Dear God.
-Sir Alan
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:50AM
40 years.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:50AM
62
Posted by Meatbone9 , Jun 29, 2009 9:51AM
112 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:51AM
death by firing squad
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:52AM
@24.....beat me to it. Well played sir/madam!!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:53AM
He should pay back his debts by working in one of those massage parlors he likes so much.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:54AM
75
Posted by wcburrs87 , Jun 29, 2009 9:55AM
67 years, Bob.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:55AM
50 yr. sentence, although his defense will appeal and eventually get that number lowered.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:56AM
15.
LA
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:56AM
27 years!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:56AM
6 zillion years.
--ruth
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:56AM
I still think he's innocent.
-walter noel
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:58AM
27 years!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:59AM
34 years!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:59AM
37 years - judge has to walk the line
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 9:59AM
a grillion years
Posted by dubs , Jun 29, 2009 10:00AM
102
Posted by Investorcluzo , Jun 29, 2009 10:00AM
bob, given his life expectancy of 83 years, the 15% discount for good behavior, I'll go with 24 - 2x team bernie (and one less than team ebbers).
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:01AM
@37.....well played, intellectually illuminating as well! Kudos!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:01AM
1 year
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:02AM
19 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:02AM
150
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:03AM
25 years and don't forget to have your pets spayed and neutered.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:04AM
25 years, 5 months and 13 days
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:07AM
1 year with Dennis Kneale!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:07AM
I sentence you to be continuously blown by Toothy Ruthie Madoff until all of the skin is torn torn torn from your soul-less prick.
BOOM!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:08AM
87.
ROK
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:08AM
House Arrest.
Sandra Manzky
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:11AM
31
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:11AM
let's split the difference, 81 years.
jfh/msk
ps: if it's federal pound me in the ass prison he's dead in 5.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:12AM
1 hour of solitary confinement with Dennis Kneale.
--Sue Herera
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:13AM
20 years of community service. Assisting the SEC investigating fraud. Because we can't find our ass with both hands.
Mary Shapiro
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:13AM
Flogged around the fleet
Caning, singapore style
bastinado
midnight express baby
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:13AM
One year living with Hank Paulson.
Posted by Revmachine21 , Jun 29, 2009 10:14AM
23 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:15AM
60 years, als referred to as MJ+10
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:19AM
I think he should get 6 months home confinement, 1 year probation and banned from the security business for 5 years.
-- Arthur Samberg
Posted by merkin capital partners , Jun 29, 2009 10:20AM
damnit, 2 30's at 9:49?
32!
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:20AM
40
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:20AM
69, with a guy named Brucie.
Posted by Investorcluzo , Jun 29, 2009 10:21AM
are we going to get one of those martha stewart style circus shows once the verdict is read? you know, with the crazy interns running out of the courthouse with poster boards. because that would be fun.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:21AM
@62 dont forget 3 weeks community service, this was a very serious offense
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:22AM
29
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:23AM
1 week of listening to me speak.
--bartiromo
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:23AM
40 years
Posted by daytraitor , Jun 29, 2009 10:24AM
70 years.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:25AM
My prediction? Pain
Also, I bet no #s, they give him life.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:25AM
My prediction? Pain
Also, I bet no #s, they give him life.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:25AM
jesus fuck how can I make that headshot mine?
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:26AM
My prediction? Pain
Also, I bet no #s, they give him life.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:27AM
The man is a financial genius. He is going to be the new National Health Czar.
Barack
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:27AM
For some reason, I think Ponzi boy can't wait for a little A2M action upstate.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:27AM
I sentence him to a life where the only thing he can read is posts by Greg Blanus.
Posted by SS Minnow , Jun 29, 2009 10:27AM
52
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:27AM
@58...excellent (original) "Mutiny on the Bounty" reference.
Capt. Bligh: "Flog that man!"
Sailor: "But he's dead, sir..."
Capt. Bligh: "The punishment must be carried out! Flog that man!"
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:28AM
18 (Chai!)
Ezzie
Probably added incentives for good behavior, helping to recoup the losses, helping the government stop other Ponzi schemes, etc. He'll never serve out anything close to the 18. Watch him get out in 6-7.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:31AM
162: 150 for what the prosecution wants plus 12 to drive home the point that what the defense wanted was ridiculous.
During his time in the pokey assets were likely still being squirreled away worldwide: a new definition of "good behavior" if I ever heard of one.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:34AM
he'll have to cover my grocery bills for a week.
-maria b.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:36AM
40 1/4 on an uptick
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:47AM
he should be sentenced to living in a 1 bedroom with me.
-ruth
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:48AM
36 years.
-jonesy
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:50AM
150 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:51AM
infinity + 1
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:51AM
46 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:52AM
Thirty years. Can Chaz sign the mug, too?
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:52AM
100 yrs of tossing my salad.
-cg
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:52AM
sex with the noel daughters
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:57AM
874 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 10:57AM
75 years of Federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:00AM
250 years.
-kevin bacon
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:03AM
12 years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:05AM
25 TO 30 YEARS.
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:05AM
30 days + community service
-Donte Stallworth
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:09AM
1 year probation
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:14AM
50 million thousand years
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:15AM
18
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:15AM
18
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:16AM
18
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:17AM
18
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:18AM
walk
Posted by guest , Jun 29, 2009 11:23AM
You talking to me? You talking to me? Go on home, boy.