Accused Wall Street scammer Bernard Madoff will continue to await trial in his Manhattan penthouse. A judge rejected prosecutors' bid to send him to jail, but imposed new restrictions to keep him from sending expensive trinkets to family and friends.

There are an awful lot of thieves awaiting trial behind bars, and I'm guessing none them stole anything close to 50 billion dollars. But Madoff's only inconvenience is an ankle bracelet that didn't come from Cartier or Tiffany.

This guy obviously knows how to beat the system. Are we supposed to believe he can't figure out ways to hide his assets from his luxury Park Avenue pad? He can't vanish on one of his private jets because he surrendered his passport? Please. Lock him up.

What a joke!

Dw queens

I feel Bernie should do time.. If I or any other hard working tax payer stole any amount of money whether it be a small or large sum we would be arrested as soon as we were found out to be a theif. This is the problem with our society today the rich get away with so much when they are really the biggest part of our crime system. How can house arrest teach this man how to not steal, it will give him the time to come up with new ideas to steal larger amount without being caught... Lock him up

Martina

If convicted of fraud Madoff should face manslaughter charges for the suicide victim. If a person commits an act with aforethought of malice which is known to have caused suicides in the past, he is guilty of manslaughter. Everyone is aware of the many suicides during the depression. Madoff knew his actions would financially ruin
many investors.

Steve B

All you little people have got to stop your constant whining! Mr. Madof, for all of his alleged crimes, is a very rich man, and lives in one of the most exclusive zip codes in this great country of ours...India. Where a caste system and a legal system that ensures the upper crust of our great society lives by a different set of laws than the rest of you lower level serfs. Just get back to work and don't bother your selves with matters that are above your station!

Jon
UWS

Just out of curiosity, who else who has committed felonies is permitted house arrest in their grand mansion? Sports figures, Martha, even our governor! The white collar felons get to live in their castles until the ax falls and the blue collar (and under) felons go to the pokey. Who says there's equality and justice for all?

Thanks and happy new year!

Liz
Sunnyside

We have to trust in the system and he is still innocent until proven guilty. While I understand the anger and rage we have to remember our fundamental rules of law.

Rich
Midtown East

The phrase "Hang 'em high" comes to mind and I'm not just referring to Madoff -- but to this pathetic judge as well. Enfuriating. Madoff is busily squirreling away things/money that should go to the ripped off investors -- he should not only be in jail, but have additional charges filed. Run, do not walk these two crooks to the worst jail available and stop this nonsense.

Denise
Upper East Side
Manhattan.

To the best of my knowledge I am not a scammed Madoff investor but I am still outraged that this man is out on bail and divesting himself of assets by giving them to family and friends. What I think should happen to him could probably not be printed here or spoken aloud on NY 1. As for the “Justice” Dept – the name appears to be a misnomer.

Sue
Chelsea

This is BS a $50 billion crime and he gets to stay in a $7 million penthouse? I bet if you thru him in a 7x10 holding cell he will let you know where the money is. I do not think the amount of bail he is on is adequate. For him the bail is chump change.

tom
richmondtown

This action by the judge leaves open only two possible beliefs: the criminal justice system has left him "outdoors" so he can make more moves as he did allowing people to track the money and its recipients (since they might hold more of it), or the court system itself is getting paid off with "other people's money."

This is too blatant an action to allow this man to roam free, and if the district attorney isn't equally annoyed, perhaps the next step is to freeze the assets of those in Madoff's family who might be prior receipient's of his stolen loot. Without any of these actions, then this is further example of the "Two America's," a notion often besmirched by capitalists who respond to only one thing - money, no matter how gained.

David D.
Lakewood NJ

Been living upstate for awhile but I get NY1 up there- yea! Allowing Madoff house arrest in his Park Avenue penthouse is a disgrace, is so hard to believe and is an insult to our judicial system This man even ripped off his sister A person can be sodomized for no reason by Police officers but someone steals millions of dollars from innocent people and gets this kind of preferential treatment Maybe it's time for a revolution?

George
Upper West Side

Unfortunately, this is how are Justice system works. However, if I were the Assistant United States Attorney representing the people I would put the Judge on notice that if while out on bail someone tried to hurt Madoff and in the process either injured or fatally wounded an innocent bystander then he (The Judge) should be held accountable because he did not remand Madoff to the Metropolitan Correctional Facility in lower Manhattan.

Chip, Upper East Side

I think it is outrageous that a man accused of a large ponzi scheme is allowed to stay out on bail while he disposes of assets reasonably assumed to probably belong to other people. Even where he is staying with his ankle bracelet can reasonably be assumed to belong to other people. Even the bail money might belong to other people...............

Mitch (Park Slope)

Let's not kid ourselves. If Madoff were black and poor, he would have been in jail a long time ago.

Lizabeth
Upper West Side

The judge's decision is biased. If Madoff was poor a man, he would be in jail. Someone smart enough to swindle as Madoff did makes very little mistakes. His excuse is an even bigger farce than the man himself.
Bernard Madoff should be locked up in a cell where inmates can do to him nightly what he has done to so many.

Denise, Flatbush, Brooklyn

The amount of money involved definitely affects our economy. If you ask me this falls in the definition of treason. How can we really call ourselves a progressive, fair and democratic country where we're no better than "democratic" India, Zimbabwe or Russia? We're right there with the rest of them.

Sincerely,
Dominik Z.

The judge's decision is completely based on whether or not Madoff is considered a flight risk. He shouldn't be punished before he's convicted, that a core principle in our legal system. Once he's found guilty he'll be in jail soon enough.

Rob
Manhattan Valley

Send the man to jail. Rikers, now. Who owns this judge?

Robert
SoHo

Talk about special treatment. This thief should be behind bars. You sometimes have to wonder about our justice system. I guess having tons of money really does make a difference.

TOM
JACKSON HGTS

I think that this is an abortion of justice, letting Madoff off with house arrest. If this was you or I, pulling the most monstrous scam in recent history, the feds would lock us up, and throw away the key. I have been told that one reason for this is that the Russian Oligarchs and also some high profile Israelis, were taken in by his scam, and they want him dead. The feds don't want Bernie dead, so they can find where more of the money is. But, it still does not seem right.

Tom
Sunnyside

SOME LAWYERS KNOW THE LAW, SOME LAWYERS KNOW THE JUDGE. KA- CHING!

JOE, BAY TERRACE

A judge ruled that money manager Bernard Madoff can remain free on bail while awaiting trial. Now meanwhile he violated his bail agreement by mailing more than one-million dollars of jewelry and heilooms to family and friends over the holidays. My question is that all the money he allegedly stole, did it not really belong to his victims? I think if he was just a common crook would he not be in jail by now? What he did went beyond greed for he ruined lives, which is just pure evil. I guess only in America, right?

Frederick B.
Glen Oaks Village, N.Y.

This guy is a pig.
2 people have already committed suicide because of this guy.
He walks around with a 'smirk' on his face.
He should get life in prison.

Drew
Upper East

I don't really give a rat's bottom about the people the Bernard Madoff scammed because he was able to accomplish his crimes by the sheer greed of his victims. The rule is that if something is too good to be true it is. What this whole calamity proves once again is that we live by different laws. The law as they apply to the poor and the law as it applies to the rich. Where was the SEC during his scam.

Jose' Astoria.

Regarding the Madoff judgement, it's not off limits to say someone was paid off. The concept that this disgrace of a human being is allowed to stay at home and distribute his stolen assets is outrageous. In an age of technology it's very easy for him to spread the wealth to friends and family before the case is closed. He should be in jail, case closed.
In case anyone's looking for another reason to lose faith in the system, here it is.

Sal
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY

P.S.: As a lifelong suffering Jets fan, I was pulling for the Giants but just can't feel that badly for their fans. ;)

If "Joe the Criminal" had done something on a petty level he would be put in jail automatically! This man has access to money and a passport, Joe the Criminal has nothing! What does this say about American justice? Nothing that I didn't already know...it stinks!

Anonymous

Exactly when was justice auctioned off on ebay?
If this judge wasn't bought off, then the entire justice system was!
When someone steals enough money to pay off half our countrys deficit and goes unpunished it sends the message that crime does pay (well considering your a rich white man in America anyway). Not only should Madar be in jail but the judge too! Throw in the
geniuses behind the two unnecesary stadiums, the excutives of the MTA and George Bush while your at it!

Calexi from Woodside

Isn't the social security fuctioning as a giant ponzi scheme too? Remember? newer people are paying for the older people, just like Madoff was running his firm.
The problem with putting Madoff in jail, is that first he would be death right away. Second, the problem is the extent and rammifications of this fraud.
Not saying this is a good guy but don't think he should go jail. I wanna know what else is there.

Eva R.

i think that its wrong that he was told to stay home in his very
expensively furnished apartment. a normal person would've been sent to jail for such a crime but the court is giving him an exception as he is of the upper class. he is the opposite version of the fictional robin hood character.

Aaron
Queens Village

PERHAP THE JUDGE IS HOPING THAT WHILE MADOFF IS ON BAIL SOMEONE WILL BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF HIM

SAL S.I.

Justice doesn't apply to people like that. Never has in this country. It is a joke that we are even talking about this. We surfs should never question the wisdom of the injustice system of this city and forsaken country oh am sorry justice system. There I go laughing at that term again.

Russell M.

Yeh there are double standards in America and Madoff is just another display of it; so what just put him under police watch until his trial.
Madoff is small potatoes compared to Wall Streets role in this economic crisis America is in lol

Alfonso

The entire Madoff scandal is a total joke.The man takes 50 billion or more from hard working people.Law abiding hard working folks,just like you and me.Who is paying for the mail to be checked?Is it the public who were ripped off once,and are being ripped off with another scam from this judge.Maybe we should lock up the judge in Bellvue hospital?? I mean come on enough already with the class system.Money pass go and collect.No money go directly to jail.

Tom
The Bronx

He is still living large at home, its the same as playing hookey, its easier for him to think about his wrongdoings without feeling sorry from home, why not put him in jail, that way he can at least suffer, maybe that Grimm on his face will go away. Either way you look at it, its still stealing. For all of you who are defending him and are agreeing with the judges desicion, you wouldthink differently if it happened to you, think about it, your life savings?

William
Glendale, NY

All I can say is that I guess that if you steal money for people
without a gun it's not a crime so you don't have to go to jail!!.
Either that or the judge just don't get what crime is!!. With
or without a "gun"!!.

Ray
Bklyn N,Y.