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WSJ: Madoff <em>Did</em> Get Prison Beatdown
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 18, 2010
Modified Mar 18, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 18, 2010
Modified Mar 18, 2010
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Last December, it was reported that Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff was assaulted at the North Carolina federal prison where he's being held for his 140-year sentence. Then prison officials said that he was not beaten and that he was simply being treated for hypertension and dizziness. Now the Wall Street Journal says that the 71-year-old "was physically assaulted by another inmate in December, according to three people familiar with the matter" and was "treated for a broken nose, fractured ribs and cuts to his head and face."
While the WSJ can't independently confirm the injuries, apparently a current inmate, a recent inmate, and another person say Madoff was hurt: "The former inmate said the dispute centered on money the assailant thought he was owed by Mr. Madoff. The current inmate said Mr. Madoff's assailant was a beefy man serving time for a drug conviction. The alleged assailant's mother said in an interview her son had not mentioned any scuffle with Mr. Madoff but that he had been a body builder and held a black belt in Judo until he was injured in a shooting in 2002. While behind bars he has regained strength and gotten back into shape, she said."
The Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman said, "In December he told staff he was not assaulted, and an investigation was completed following his statements, which corroborated his statements." Oh, like prisoners ever want to snitch—we've seen Oz! The spokeswoman also said it would be impossible for his alleged attacker to interact with Madoff, because they live in different units, but the WSJ's sources refute that, noting that many inmates from different units mingle.
Some more fun facts: Madoff likes to hang out in the prison library "on the weekends and often watches movies, including 'Lethal Weapon.'" The former inmate also asked Madoff for financial advice; Madoff suggested that he diversify his index funds by opting for "funds that track the S&P 500 index of stocks 'where my money would be on all the stocks instead of putting my eggs into one basket.'" And Madoff advised him against day trading, "I was trying to get into day trading and he's like, 'That's not for you. That's for individuals like me with millions to spare.'" Wait, Madoff's talking in the present tense—so he does have millions to spare, perhaps in an off-shore account?!?
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beatdown
beating
Bernard Madoff
federal prison
ponzi scheme
prison sentence
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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