Madoff Begins Sentence He Can Never Finish

So it begins, or ends ... depending on your point of view.

Bernie Madoff -- or prisoner 61727-054 as he's currently listed in the Federal Bureau of Prisons registry -- officially began his long, extended sentence in the federal prison system Tuesday.

After getting slapped with a 150-year prison term, Madoff arrived today at a federal prison facility in Butner, North Carolina, where he will begin serving his time. In March, Madoff pleaded guilty to charges linked to his creation of an epic ponzi scheme that ultimately swindled investors out of billions.

And with a touch of sad sincerity, the federal registry lists November 14, 2139, as his anticipated release date.

As the fallout continues and legal bills mount in the thousands of claims filed against the disgraced former money manager and others, at least Madoff, 71, will be keeping similar company: Adelphia Communications founder John Rigas and his son Tim, a former chief financial officer for the cable television operation, were convicted on numerous fraud charges and also shipped to the Butner Federal Correction Complex, located just outside of Durham.