Bernard Madoff

Bernard Madoff's mug shot - Madoff lived in a small cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in lower Manhattan after he pleaded guilty on March 12, 2009, to securities fraud, perjury and nine other charges. He received the maximum sentence of 150 years in prison for his crimes.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court on March 12, 2009, in New York. The disgraced financier pleaded guilty to all 11 felony charges brought by prosecutors. The plea ends a half-century career that saw him rise to Nasdaq chairman and be revered as one of Wall Street's elite.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court on March 12, 2009, in New York. After entering his plea, Madoff told the judge he "cannot adequately express" how sorry he is. He also told the judge his pyramid scheme began in the early 1990s in response to a recession.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court on March 12, 2009, in New York. Madoff was ordered to await his sentencing in jail after pleading guilty. The judge, in revoking bail, said Madoff was a flight risk and had incentive to do so because of his age. Applause broke out in the courtroom after the judge's announcement.

Former financier Bernard Madoff, center, is escorted by federal agents into Federal Court in Manhattan on March 12, 2009, in New York.

Bernard Madoff exits Manhattan federal court on March 10, 2009, in New York. Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 criminal counts including money laundering, perjury and securities, mail and wire fraud without a plea deal.

Bernard Madoff exits Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, March 10, 2009, in New York.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court for a hearing to discuss potential conflicts of interest between him and his lawyer on March 10, 2009, in New York. The former Nasdaq chairman has been convicted of swindling investors out of billions of dollars.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court for a hearing to discuss potential conflicts of interest between him and his lawyer on March 10, 2009, in New York. In the photograph, Madoff wears a bulletproof vest. He was brought to the courthouse more than three hours early in an attempt to avoid any confrontations with angry investors.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court Tuesday, March 10, 2009, in New York. At least 25 Madoff investors asked to speak under oft-overlooked provisions allowing victims of crime to appear at a defendant's plea hearing.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court for a hearing to discuss potential conflicts of interest between him and his lawyer on March 10, 2009, in New York.

Bernard Madoff arrives at Manhattan federal court for a hearing to discuss potential conflicts of interest between him and his lawyer on March 10, 2009, in New York.

The "Bernie 'He Made Off With My Money' Madoff" character doll was shown at the American International Toy Fair on Feb. 16, 2009, at the Javits Center in New York. Amid the financial wreckage of the Bernard Madoff scandal, a cottage industry of talking heads, expert panels and Internet traffic is thriving.

Besieged money manager Bernard Madoff arrives at Federal Court on Jan. 14, 2009, in New York. Tucked among the hedge funds and the famous names on Bernard Madoff's client roster is an unlikely group of about 800 people - strangers to one another, yet all listed at the same anonymous Denver address.

Bernard L. Madoff, the accused mastermind of a $50 billion Ponzi scheme, leaves Federal Court on Jan. 14, 2009, in New York.