(AP) - Bernard Madoff has been sentenced to 150 yearsin prison for his multibillion-dollar fraud scheme.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin handed down the sentenced in NewYork on Monday.

The 71-year-old former Nasdaq chairman was arrested late lastyear after confessing to his sons that his secretive investmentadvisory business was a "big lie."

He pleaded guilty to securities fraud and other charges in Marchand has been jailed since.