Guy:
How about Bernie Madoff?
Madoff is the classic example that folks use in cases like this. Madoff or other swindlers like Ken Lay. And, yes, I'll stand by what I said above. I'd rather Madoff walk the streets than taking up three hots and a cot for another 15 or 20 years while the taxpayers foot the bill for his health care.
The correct punishment for swindlers and Ponzi schemers, in my opinion, comes from the Eddie Murphy-Dan Akroyd movie, "Trading Places." As they're bringing down the brothers and their investment firm, Eddie's character says, "If you want to really hurt rich people, turn them into poor people..." These guys hide the money with family members, like a shell game, but society should have the ability to suck back every penny they have - and keep on sucking until they and anyone to whom they gave it "in trust" is penniless.