Capital Chronicle makes the point, on the back of the Madoff sentencing, that either the US Justice system knows more than the rest of us about the demographic time bomb threatening pensions or its sentencing system may be a touch detached from reality.
Bernie’s 150 years actually ranks just fourth in terms of the longest white-collar sentences handed down in the US, according to Forbes, who have compiled an automated picture gallery here showing us the Top Ten.
Heading the list is one Sholam Weiss, who landed 845 years back in 2000 for his part in the National Heritage Life Insurance collapse. He went on the run and was subsequently picked up in Austria, but he can now look forward to a release date of November 23, 2754.
A co-defendant in the case, Keith Pound, landed 740 years, but died in prison after serving just three of those.
Maybe his victims felt cheated.
Related links:
White-collar criminals – FT.com interactive graphic
Victims have their moment but the suffering goes on – John Gapper