Madoff victims send 113 letters to judge
NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — Victims of Bernard Madoff's record-setting Ponzi scheme described him as a "monster" and "serial criminal" who deserves "no hope" and "no forgiveness" in 113 letters sent to the judge who will sentence him on June 29.
Federal prosecutors yesterday filed a court document that includes the letters written to US District Judge Denny Chin, who will sentence Madoff for defrauding investors of as much as $65 billion. Eight victims have asked to speak at the sentencing, where Madoff faces as many as 150 years in prison.
"Mr. Madoff has wreaked havoc on our family," Patricia Brown, a 61-year-old widow, wrote in one letter.
"I can't tell you how scattered we feel," wrote another investor, Elle Bussi-Sottile. "It goes beyond financially. It reaches to the core and affects your general faith in humanity."
Madoff, 71, pleaded guilty March 12 to defrauding investors by using money from new ones to pay off old ones. He's been held in prison since then.
"According to Madoff's last statement for November 2008, I had $2.3 million," wrote investor Morton Chalek. "Two weeks later, I was bankrupt."