March 18, 2010
Madoff No Rat
It is estimated that he stole almost $20 billion from investors. His crimes, according to the judge that sentenced him, were ‘extraordinary evil’. And yet despite his countless immoral acts the Wall Street Journal tells us the one thing Madoff isn’t is a rat:
“In December he told staff he was not assaulted, and an investigation was completed following his statements, which corroborated his statements.” Madoff Beaten in Prison
If Madoff really was assaulted and he refused to rat on his assailant, the question is why? Was it because he feared for his life if he told on who broke his nose? Was it because he did not want to be looked down upon by fellow inmates he will spend the rest of his life with? Whatever the case may be, that Madoff was quite willing to carry out the crime of the century but unwilling to tattle on a fellow inmate is interesting – it tells us that while jail isn’t a deterrent when it comes to preventing ponzi-schemes, the threat of more severe punishment may be…