Bernard Madoff, 71, was recently sentenced to 150 years in prison due to fraud. It may not have been his happiest hour. It has been quiet a week. Michael, Farrah, and now Bernard. I don't think CNN has had a chance to breathe yet.

The Madoff Ponzi case may be a case of fraud but in some way it can also be a humanitarian case. Madoff didn't advance human welfare. He took away from people's rights and money they've worked for all their life. He did this knowingly and for a long period of time. The question: "How did he sleep at night?" is in perfect context.

150 years, which in other words is a life sentence, is harsh but it is also deserved. Although, usually, only murderers get a life sentence or, in the States, a death penalty he did ruin many people's lives a great deal. Some people have to go back to work at the age of 80 seeing as they lost their entire life savings due to Madoff. While others who are incapable of going back to work because of their age have to sell their homes and live with their families in their basements.

I usually find life sentences very harsh and cruel because it gives the criminals no hope or chance to redeem themselves. It’s like putting a person through a slow and painful death; no one would want that on anyone. You might as well give them a death penalty.

• Corinne Stancescu's blog