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EYEWITNESS NEWS VIEWER SUBMISSIONS

Bernie Madoff is a good man who made a very small mistake. I cannot understand why people are so upset about he did, so what people lost their money. the bottom line money is not everything.God put Bernie on this earth to teach us a lesson that money is not everything. May God Bless Bernie Madoff for his good works.

Jack Smitter
Scarsdale, NY

Now Madoff is sentenced to 150 years in jail. probably a federal jail, with a roof over his head and 3 meals a day, medical care, a exercise room. And the people he robbed are on the streets is that justice. Maybe he should go to a Iraian, or North Korean jail. He will be better off than the people he hurt.

Jim Powers-Hill
Asbury Parl, NJ

I think Madoff got the right sentence for his wicked act, his victims will feel a little better! knowing he got caught before he could trick anyone else!

Devindra Seyhodan
Queens, NY

Not nearly enough punishment. He should have to work on his hands and knees digging 12 ft ditches with a hand shovel until he dies and then he can rest in peace in a grave of his own digging. Crime appearanty does pay. This man lived like a KING for 50 years and virtually will have to pay nothing for the crime. His punishment amounts to staying in a country club prison and trading in his toys albeit very expensive toys. Absolutely zero justice has been served.

Mike Johnson
Oxford, CT

Bernie Madoff was nothing more than a con artist and he got exactly what he deserved. I wish that the law would go after all con artists as aggressively as him. There are people who live paycheck to paycheck that are being swindled every day by con artists. They would like to see some Madoff justice as well.

Michelle Boone
Queens, NY

I have barely heard or read about the SEC's role in all of this. They are supposed to be over seeing what is going on-WHAT HAPPENED? Could it be that the SEC is allowing investment firms to do what they want? Are they working hand in glove with each other?

Mona Richardson
Bronx, NY

Madoff should've gotten more than 150 years. He ruined a lot of lives.

Albert Bruan
Nutley, NJ

Madoff got what he deserved but I also think that his wife should be left in the same financial situation that most of his victims are left. PENNILESS!!!!!!

Karen Keels
Bronx, NY

I think the punishment should fit the crime. I think that he should be put to work each day, 7 days a week restoring the money to all the people he tricked! Get him up at 5:00 A.M.and put him to work, digging ditches or working in a coal mine, no desk job!Let him work each day, to start repaying his victims.WE are paying out more tax payer dollars to house him in a jail!So now we are actually paying out more money, for this thief!

Hannah Sally
Merrick, NY

Madoff is the tip of the iceberg. There has been massive theft of the wealth we produce, by the "Masters" as Adam Smith called our owners. When will we have the backbone to even ask them to chip in on fixing the economic mess they have made?

Glenn Goodman
Lower Lake, CA

I think that he and his whole family should have everything they own stripped from them. Who's to say what's what when you steal 65 BILLION dollars from people. Instead of prison for 150 years, put him to work at a Buger King with him and his whole family, and let them live out of their car. That to me in far more worst than prison for a family such as them.

Jimmy Bradey
New Jersey

Madoff got the right sentence. Listen up, be sure your greed will find you out. These well off Wall St people as well as the greedy crooked politians are what has caused this country to sink. Bring back American pride and industrial jobs and forget this service industry BS. Take care of America first! The middle class and poor are fed up! The very rich are the ones who caused this condition we find ourselves in.

Darlene Adcox
Terre Haute, IN

Bernie Madoff did get what he deserved, but he is not the only one involved that should be punished. There are other individuals including his family and others who were involved in leaving so many individuals without their savings. Morally the Madoffs damaged the meaning of "friend." Mrs. Madoff should not be given anything, that is outrageous!

Ginny Plihcik
Bridgewater, NJ

I believe that the sentence that Madoff received reflects his unjust and disgraceful actions towards victims well. However, if we think about how much the victims have gone through due to his actions, I believe that the sentence should be more harsh. Either call the sentence life in prison or make Madoff pay a substantial amount of money towards the government or victims and at the same time, put him in jail for 150 years or for life. But overall, 150 years in jail seems to be a very reasonable and rational sentence for Mr. Madoff. Good job, Judge Chin.

Jeanette Wong
New York, NY

BURN BABY BURN! It's sad and a shame what this man did to his clients. You have to be just evil and uncaring to do something this long with other people hard earn money. Please read my message to the world, BURN BABY BURN. Maybe while he's in prison he can regain some type of humanity.

Joanne Jackson
Hempstead, NY

I think the sentence, like the crime, is extreme. How is it that he got away with it so long without accomplices? So he gets 1,800 months. No one man could scam so long, so much, with no one watching his back.

Lenny Stringer
Brooklyn, NY

Growing as a kid, my father warned me about scams and never had my money invested. Sadly, my father died and never got to see this day to say "See what greedy people can do to your hard earned money?" On a side note - Why do people think they can make money fast and easy way by pouring money into him. The SEC should be really investigated for "looking the other way."

Sammy Chin
New York, NY

I think he got what he deserved. It was wrong of him to do what he did to those people. Money and wealth isn't everything. If he wanted it that badly, he should have worked harder for it.

Shannah
Hackensack, NJ

Mr. Madoff received a wonderful sentence from Judge Chin. It is amazing to me how his wife can write the statement she did addressing the victims of this fraud. She bears responsiblity for her actions as well. She states that these people were their friends. Does one do this to a friend?!!! The SEC also bears responsibility for their in-action, and lack of due diligence in the wake of these crimes. 150 years - it should be a lot more.

Lynn Luehrs
New York City, NY

Given the size and scope of Madoff's unjust actions, this was the right sentence. It might not be what all of the victims call closure, but at least Madoff can't do it again.

Brittany
Bronx, NY

I am so glad that he got 150 years. I can not imagine what these people have gone through.

Dale Rosenberg
Garfield, NJ

Only 150 years? I wish he would live long enough to serve the whole sentence.

Fred Roth
Wayne, NJ

150 years in prison is too good a sentence for a psychopath like him! He should suffer more and be executed for devastating the lives of so many hard working people who made an honest living. As a taxpayer, he would be living on my expense, what an outage!

Christine Cheung
Freehold, NJ

Not enough time, but what about the others? He sure couldn't pull this off alone!

John Ammenwerth
Lords Valley, PA

Stay in jail the rest of his life. And his wife should be along side of him, she does not deserve $2.5 million for spending money, she is just as guilty as he is. I feel sorry for all the families this man has destroyed.

Mair
Brooklyn, NY

Hey, it's not like he was Robin Hood. He deserves every minute of every hour in jail. And he shouldn't get a white collar jail cell either. He's a thief, a common criminal. 12 years would've been ridiculous. How do all of those people recover? They don't, do they, so why should he be given a break. Karma!

Erica James
St. Albans, NY

I think that the judgement is a little bit bizarre, because 150 years of prison means that Madoff would be 221 years old if he get out of prison. That's impossible. In 2159, Madoff is a skeleton and all the other people too. But it's obvious that Madoff has to be forced by judge to cooperate with the police and other authorities to save the money for the cheated investors. He has to work day and night for his victims. Moreover, he should do an ordinary hard job in prison and give 99 percent of his income to his victims.

Henrik Leschonski
Berlin, Germany

Its funny that when people make money on their investments theyaren't interested in how it is being made. What goes up will unfortunately come down. As for Bernie 150 years is overkill asentence of 25 to 30 years is in effect a life sentence because he will in all likelihood die before he serves the full sentence. Where was the SEC during this ?

Linda Calandrello
MINEOLA, N.Y.

He deserves to spend rest of his life in prison. The familes have nothing but heartache for rest of there lives.

Judy Driscoll
Hillsborough, New Jersey

I think that no amount of time will be good enough for Mr.Madoff.The families he scammed has a life time of heartache. Mr. Madoff shame on you.

Sharon Bender
New York

It doesn't matter whether he got a sentence of 20 years or 150 years....his life as he knew it is over and since he won't live another 150 years the judges sentence simply sent a message but was a bit over handed. Some judges are not practical.

Barry Gersten
AUSTIN, TX

Bernard Madoff definitely deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. He hurt so many people because of this scheme, and should never be forgiven for what he did.

Michael Yearsley
Levittown, N.Y.

The maximum sentence is most appropriate as it is the most massive PONZI ever. I suggest we refer to these schemes as Madoff schemes in his 'honor. Regulators ought to have been on to him long before, that is what needs to be answered.

Donovan Jackson
Kingston, Jamaica

I hope their is no chance of parole, not even upon his death bed.

Susan David
Dover, N.J.

If you or I cashed a check that the bank wrote in error, or if we were caught buying stolen goods, we would be prosecuted for taking what is not ours. So why was only Bernie tried? Think of the people's lives that were ruined because of these people. White collar crime to this degree is not acceptable and should not be treated lightly.

Becky Shovey
Woodbridge, N.J.

Thank Goodness for Justice!!! Think of those poor people he bilked millions from. His family is just as bad....they knew. Noone lives that great and can say they didnt know!!!Shame on him and Shame on his family!!!!!!

Juelane Gisinger
Brick, N.J.

The judge handed down the right sentence of 150 years maybe to make sure that he won't come out of prison!!

Iris Gonzalez
Oakland Gardens, N.Y.

I FEEL THEY SHOULD GIVE HIM LIFE HIM AND HIS WIFE AND THE REST OF HIS FAMILY THEY ALL KNEW!!!!!!!!

Evan Trude
Irvington, N.J.