Bernie Madoff, who oversaw the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, has filed a request for an early prison release citing terminal kidney disease.
In a letter sent to U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin, Madoff’s attorney said that the Bureau of Prisons determined Madoff has only 18 months to live due to kidney failure but it did not respond to a request for compassionate release within 30 days.
Madoff was admitted to a Comfort Care Unit for palliative care in July 2019 and has “exhausted all administrative remedies,” according to a court motion filed Wednesday, which details Maddoff’s many ailments and symptoms.
Madoff, 81, pleaded guilty in 2009 to the charges of orchestrating the financial fraud, which scammed investors in his firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities out of almost $65 billion.He was sentenced 150 years in a federal prison which he has been serving in Butner, N.C.
“Madoff does not dispute the severity of his crimes nor does he seek to minimize the suffering of his victims,” the court motion reads. “Madoff has expressed remorse for his crimes. Now, after over ten years of incarceration and with less than 18 months to live, Madoff humbly asks this Court for a modicum of compassion.”
The motion comes 7 months after he asked president Trump to reduce his sentence.
The Department on Justice did not immediately respond to request for comment from The Hill.