Madoff En Route to New Prison; Leaves New York for Carolina

July 13, 2009— -- To his great relief, convicted con man Bernard Madoff is being sent to a medium security federal prison in North Carolina to serve his 150-year sentence, according to federal officials and other people involved in the case.

Madoff and his wife Ruth had feared he would be sent to a much harsher maximum security facility.

"She will be greatly relieved," said someone close to Ruth.

Click here to go behind the scenes of Brian Ross' investigation into Bernie and Ruth Madoff.

Federal officials said Madoff was en route today to the prison at Butner, North Carolina, which also has a medical center.

Concerns were reportedly raised about the "stress" Madoff may have suffered before and after he received his 150-year sentence June 29.

Madoff's lawyer, Ira Lee Sorkin, had asked the judge to send him to the federal prison in Otisville, New York so it would be easier for his wife to visit.

The North Carolina facility is located near the Research Triangle area of Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

Click here for complete Blotter coverage of Madoff and his Ponzi scheme.

Madoff's sentence has already been reduced by 20 years, according to federal prison records which list his release date as Nov. 12, 2139.

He reportedly confided to people close to him that he viewed going to prison as a new adventure akin to the time he served as a second lieutenant in the army reserves at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the 1960s.

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