Bernard Madoff has been given the maximum prison sentence of 150 years for masterminding a massive fraud that robbed investors of $65bn (�40bn).
The sentence, which means Madoff will spend the rest of his life in jail, was greeted with cheers and applause in the packed courtroom.
US District Judge Denny Chin said he wanted to send a message that Madoff's crimes were "extraordinarily evil".
Madoff's lawyer had sought a more lenient sentence of 12 years.
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