Dear Media: Madoff won't "die" in prison. He'll "live" in prison until he "dies" of natural causes.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Big difference. We're not talking about him getting "shanked in the laundry room at Rikers."

June 29 (Bloomberg) -- Bernard Madoff will learn today whether he will die in prison when a judge sentences him for masterminding the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin will determine Madoff’s fate in Manhattan federal court. The choice confronting the judge is stark. Madoff attorney Ira Sorkin asked for a sentence of as little as 12 years, citing the 13-year life expectancy for his 71-year-old client. Prosecutors said in a filing June 26 that the “scope, duration and nature of Madoff’s crimes” call for a 150-year term. The hearing began this morning at 10 a.m.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aW9v9Qb.XL7c

[MineralMan]

1. Kind of a fine line to draw, I think.

He will also die in prison, probably in the prison hospital.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. It is a fine line, but...

...the line is there, and it's being drawn by the media.

It's not the fact that Madoff swindled one or two people. His crime was huge, and it was absolutely premeditated. If there's a reason why he deserves a light sentence, I'm sure the judge will take it into consideration.

The easiest way to avoid spending the last 12 or 13 years of his life in prison, if the life expectancy projection is accurate, would have been to not commit the crime.

[anigbrowl]

7. No it isn't

Media comments that he'll probably die in prison aren't an attempt to raise sympathy for the guy, just an observation that his sentence is likely to be far longer than his lifespan. I haven't seen anyone other than his lawyer arguing he deserves a light sentence.

[qazplm]

10. I agree

it's a standard line used anytime someone gets such a long sentence that it exceeds all possible lifespans.

Has little to do with Maddof.

[Teaser]

2. dead's dead.

.

[xultar]

4. Someone in prison may do harm to him.

[Stevenmarc]

8. As opposed to someone outside of prison, that he screwed, doing harm to him

He's safer in prison

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. I guarantee, there are a lot more people OUTSIDE prison who want

to do harm to him.

Prison might be the safest place for him.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. If he lives to be 221, he wins. He seems to like the gambling.

With other people's money.

[lazer47]

6. "Caveat emptor