Monday, June 29, 2009

Crime of the Century

It’s difficult to admit: I was happy to see Bernard Madoff get the full 150 year sentence for the massive fraud he committed. It’s not easy to be happy due to another’s bad fortune.

His attorney appealed to the court to sentence Madoff to 12 years, hardly a fitting punishment for what might be “the crime of the century.”

The list of victims encompassed thousands, including Zsa Zsa Gabor, Footloose star Kevin Bacon and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick. The broad based fraud also involved anonymous investors, whose life savings vanished into thin air.

Two burning questions remain. Where did the money go? Who helped Mr. Madoff swindle so many out of so much?

What would make me truly happy is the return of the funds to the investors who lost their life savings and their retirement hopes. This is a modern day tragedy.