Awwwwwwww

Madoff's yacht seized on French Riviera

French authorities on the Cote d'Azur have chained up his $7 million yacht "Bull" at a port in the exclusive Mediterranean enclave of Cap d'Antibes, between Cannes and Nice.

Bailiffs threw a heavy chain around the boat's propeller on Friday after a court granted the request by French investment firm Meeschaert, one of the many former investors in one of Madoff's funds that is now suing to get some of its clients' money back.

The Bull was seized "just in time," lawyer Philippe Rames of Gide Loyrette Nouel told the Associated Press. "It seems that the people who were taking care of the boat were getting ready to move it to more accommodating waters," said Rames, who is working for Meeschaert on the case.

A warning posted by the bailiffs on the boat reads: "Important: Do not turn on the motors, considering that the propellers are chained."

It's a shame. Of the things this global financial meltdown produces that I most wanted to see, a crew of Madoff flunkies roaming the high seas evading creditors, evading any fiscal payments or asset forfeiture to Madoff's debtors had to be near the top of the list. They'd wear little Madoff themed naval uniforms, run a flag (Madoff's head on a $100 bill) up the mizzenmast, and raid the fishing boats and party cruisers of the middle class. Maybe Mrs. Madoff declaring their penthouse a sovereign pirate nation would be as good, but what are the odds of that happening? It's too bad the damned French police had to get in the way of my dreams.