the five longest prison sentences for a white-collar crime
- 845 years - Sholam Weiss, 2000
Crime: Wire fraud and money laundering, which led to failure of National Heritage Life Insurance company. Also fled the country but was apprehended. He was convicted of 78 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Amount: $450 million - 740 years - Keith Pound, 2000
Crime: Weiss’ right hand man in the scheme to defraud National Heritage Life Insurance.
Amount: $450 million - 330 years - Normal Schmidt, 2008
Crime: Led fraudulent high yield investment scheme but actually used the money to buy a castle and eight NASCAR race cars.
Amount: $40 million - 150 years - Bernie Madoff, 2009
Crime: Led a Ponzi scheme that was the largest investor fraud ever run. Convicted of 11 criminal charges including money laundering and fraud.
Amount: $65 billion - 100 years - Will Hoover, 2005
Crime: Fraudulent financial advisor. Convicted of 44 counts of racketeering, securities fraud, and theft.
Amount: $15.4 million - ~10 years - Charles Ponzi, 1922
Crime: The original Ponzi scheme. Charged with larceny by the state of Massachusetts for which he received 3.5 years of prison, was released, and then charged with 86 counts of mail fraud by the Supreme Court. Then he appealed, was freed, started a new scam, and was indicted again, appealed, was feed, started a new scam, and was caught again, finally returning to Massachusetts to serve out his time.
Amount: millions
