Some query symbolism of Madoff sentence

By Grant McCool

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The 150-year sentence meted out to Bernard Madoff surprised some legal experts, who say it far exceeds the punishments handed down to other big-time corporate scoundrels and may not send the intended message to other would-be crooks.

The sentence handed down on Monday was six times longer than the 25-year and 24-year prison terms being served by former Chief Executives Bernie Ebbers of WorldCom Inc and Jeffrey Skilling of Enron.

At an emotional hearing in Manhattan federal court on Monday, Judge Denny Chin said the symbolism of any sentence above 20 or 25 years, effectively life for the 71-year-old Madoff, was important.

"The judge could have accomplished the same result, a life sentence, by sentencing Madoff to 30 or 50 years," said James Cohen, law professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York.

"Making sure he leaves prison in a coffin is entirely correct, but what does it mean?"

Chin agreed with prosecutors that Madoff should receive the statutory maximum incarceration of 150 years. The judge rejected arguments by the swindler's lawyer for a 12-year sentence.

Madoff pleaded guilty in March to criminal charges, including securities fraud, money laundering and perjury in an unprecedented global scam that prosecutors said drew in as much as $65 billion.

Law professor Jayne Barnard of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, questioned whether the full sentence allowed would be a deterrent.