N.Y. benches at risk due to Madoff name

NEW YORK, March 11 (UPI) -- Four benches in New York's Central Park honoring disgraced Wall Street executive Bernard Madoff could be targeted by vandals, area residents say.

Teacher Julie Rotondi, 27, said if certain individuals knew that Madoff's name was emblazoned on plaques attached to the four benches, the park additions would soon face vandalism, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

"I think someone will absolutely vandalize these if they realize they're connected to him," Rotondi said.

"It's only a matter of time and everyone hates him."

Former police officer Pete Gleason called for the removal of the plaques that were placed on the benches to honor a donation from Madoff's family years ago.

"How long is it going to take for us to rid ourselves of the scourge of the Madoff name? The city should absolutely take these plaques down," Gleason said to the Post.

Madoff, former Nasdaq stock exchange chairman, is facing 150 years in prison for conducting a Ponzi scheme that cost investors billions of dollars.