Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Madoff Heads To Prison, Lawyer Shocked At Outrage
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 13, 2009
Modified Jul 14, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 13, 2009
Modified Jul 14, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Post reports that Bernard Madoff has left the Metropolitan Correctional Center, his home for the past few months, and it's believed he's headed upstate to begin his 150-year sentence at the federal correctional facility in Otisville, NY: "The [Bureau of Prisons] tends to place inmates in facilities that are within a reasonable distance of their family members, to promote visits. Otisville, which is near Middletown, NY, in Orange County, is only about 77 miles away from" NYC. Update: CNBC says Madoff is at a facility in Butner, North Carolina—does this mean Ruth Madoff is headed South too?
Madoff's lawyer Ira Sorkin was featured in a Newsday article over the weekend—apparently after defending the worst business world criminal ever, Sorkin is still surprised at the anger directed at him personally. Sorkin showed his e-mail message he received: "This is in regard to your efforts on the behalf of Bernard Madoff. As one Jew to another I deeply regret that the Sorkin family did not perish in the Nazi death camps." He said of the victims' vitriol, "My reaction was surprise, anger and in some respects sadness at the lack of understanding of what Civics 101 is all about... They do not understand that by defending people who are charged with doing bad things and in fact were doing bad things, protects people who might be charged and didn't [do bad things]."
The lawyer also described the voicemail he received from his infamous client on December 11: "Hi, it's Bernie, I have just been arrested by the FBI and I'm handcuffed to a chair."
Tagged
Bernard Madoff
Ira Sorkin
otisville
ponzi scheme
sentencing
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 8:26 a.m. ET
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
News
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
By
Walter Wuthmann
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .