Lawyer trying to free Madoff temporarily

NEW YORK, March 13 (UPI) -- Admitted swindler Bernard Madoff's lawyer asked an appeals court Friday to allow Madoff to remain under house arrest in New York City.

The court was expected to decide later in the day whether Madoff, 70, should remain in the Metropolitan Correctional Center pending sentencing June 16, the New York Daily News reported. Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 securities-related charges Thursday before a federal judge in New York, saying during the hearing he was "deeply sorry and ashamed" of his actions in the scam that that cost investors as much as $50 billion.

Applause erupted in the courtroom when U.S. District Judge Denny Chin revoked Madoff's bail and ordered him to jail. He faces up to 150 years.

"I just want him to rot in jail for the rest of his life," Richard Shapiro, 55, of Hidden Hills, Calif., told the Los Angeles Times. "He's a thief and he's ruined people's lives."

Others hope to find out where the money went.

"Investors want some money back," New York model Sharon Lissauer said. "Even if he spends the rest of his life in jail, that doesn't help me."

Legal experts said prosecutors have a Herculean task to retrace Madoff's steps. Although Madoff gave authorities a list of assets owned by him and his company, investigators said they fear many other assets may have been transferred to his wife or children or held overseas.