Cityfile: New York's Most Notable and Influential

Orange Is the New Black (At Least at Rikers) | Remember Ronald Tackman, the career criminal who was awaiting sentencing on fraud charges the other day, but who managed to slip out of court because he was dressed in a three-piece suit and officers assumed he was a lawyer? Tackman is back behind bars today; the police arrested him in Washington Heights last night. But his escape has already had an impact on the city's criminal justice system. As of today, Rikers Island inmates who are considered escape risks "are to be outfitted in bright orange jumpsuits whenever they travel from the jail to court." [NYT]

If you find yourself facing a life sentence at Manhattan Supreme Court and you decide you'd rather take your chances and make a run for it, you'll need to execute your big escape is a well-tailored suit. It worked out pretty well for Ronald Tackman this morning. The career criminal facing five counts of robbery in Manhattan (he's also accused of another robbery in Queens) pulled the move this morning and managed to get mistaken for a lawyer in the process:

Tackman, who had been awaiting trial on Rikers Island, was "impeccably dressed" in a jacket and tie when he arrived for a pre-trial hearing on the 13th floor, the source said. Somehow, Tackman managed to sneak down two flights to a holding area for prisoners awaiting trial - and where a court officer mistook him for a lawyer, according to the source. "Counselor, what are you doing here?" the officer asked, the source said. Another courthouse source said Tackman was not handcuffed and in a suit. "The officer didn't even challenge him," the second source said. "He just walked out."

If you see Tackman, don't panic. He isn't considered dangerous. Then again, the chances of actually spotting him seem to be pretty slim. He's described by one official as "the quintessential average-looking white guy." [NYDN, NYP]

Allen Stanford's Rough Weekend | When Allen Stanford said that he found prison life "oppressive," he wasn't kidding. The financier accused of operating a $7 billion Ponzi scheme has returned to his cell after a prison brawl last week left him with mild concussion, broken nose and two black eyes. [Reuters]

Bernie: Officially Cancer-Free | Bernie Madoff may not be dying of cancer, after all. The Federal Bureau of Prisons just released a statement on the subject, and it's denying the report in today's Post that the fraudster's days are numbered: More

Bernie Madoff: Dying of Cancer? | Bernie Madoff is not doing well. Not just because he's behind bars, where he'll remain for the rest of his life. But because he's suffering from pancreatic cancer and "doesn't have long to live," say several of his fellow inmates who spoke with the Post:More

A New York lawmaker has introduced a bill that would charge rich criminals $90 a day for room and board at state prisons. That means a stay at Rikers Island (left) would only cost a dollar more than a night at the Hotel Carter (right)—otherwise known as the worst hotel in America—where rooms are currently going for $89 a night. The extra dollar is probably well worth it. We're willing to bet that Rikers is both cleaner and safer. [Daily Finance]

Allen Stanford Is Steaming, Mad | "Sir" Allen Stanford, the Texas financier accused of masterminding a $7 billion Ponzi scheme, has been behind bars for about a month now. And he's not happy. His lawyer has asked a judge to transfer him to a new prison because the facility he currently calls home doesn't have air conditioning and the atmosphere is "oppressive" and "intolerable." [NYP]

Bernie Adjusts to Life On the Inside | It's been a week since Bernie Madoff settled in at the federal prison complex in Butner, NC, the penitentiary that will be his home for the next century or so. How's he doing? So far, so good. Although some of his fellow prisoners have been "discussing beating him up to boost their jailhouse reputations"—they actually debate these things in advance?—they've resisted the urge up until now, mainly because they've been "impressed" that he hasn't ratted out the people who helped him carry out his scheme.More

Madoff Catches a Break | Bernie Madoff's prison sentence has been reduced from 150 years to 130 years. Or maybe it hasn't. But for whatever reason the Bureau of Prisons has the fraudster's release date listed for 2139. Math error or evidence Bernie's opened up his wallet and is now dishing out bribes to prison officials? You decide! [Dealbreaker]

The Mystery Continues | Contrary to what CNBC and the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, convicted con artist Bernie Madoff did not end up at the federal prison in Butner, North Carolina last night. But he didn't go to the facility in Otisville, NY either, which was what the Post and CNN had been claiming. All those "sources" turned out to be wrong, and he arrived at a prison in Atlanta. But no one knows if he'll be staying in Atlanta permanently, or if it's just a temporary stop-off, so the mystery continues, it seems. [NYT, BN, previously]

Right now Bernie Madoff is heading to the prison where he'll spend the rest of his life. Just which prison he's headed to, though, is still a mystery. Late this afternoon, an unidentified source told the Post that Madoff was headed to Otisville, the facility that he'd requested since it's within driving distance of NYC (not to mention renowned for its tasty kosher meals). CNBC, however, has been reporting that its source is telling them that Madoff is going to the medium security federal prison in Butner, North Carolina. CNN is following the Post's lead and going with Otisville. The Post's sister paper, the Wall Street Journal, is backing up CNBC and reporting that "a person familiar with the situation" has indicated Madoff is North Carolina-bound. Presumably we'll find out his destination for certain in a few hours when he shows up and makes his grand entrance. Or maybe this is all part of Bernie's plan to deliberately confuse prison officials and he's behind the wheel of a stolen car and speeding for the Mexican border? Developing!

Bernie Goes Prison Shopping | Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison last week. Exactly where he'll spend the remaining years of his life, however, has yet to be decided. It will be up to the Bureau of Prisons to pick out an appropriate facility for the fraudster. But Madoff is still hoping to have a bit of a say as to where he ends up and even hired a prison "consultant" by the name of Herb Hoelter to help him find just the right place. More

The Next Chapter in Bernie Madoff's Life | Bernie Madoff will be sentenced for his crimes on Monday and he faces a maximum of 150 years in prison. (His lawyer's request of 12 years? Highly unlikely.) What will Bernie need to know when he gets sent off to a federal correctional facility, especially since other inmates may blame him for the economic meltdown as a whole? He'll need to "maintain high visibility," says Larry Levine, an ex-con and consultant to white-collar criminals, who recommends Madoff stay in areas where lots of other people gather. "Do not become confrontational with anybody. Respect people; be polite. Don't borrow anything from anyone. Don't become beholden to anyone," he adds. We'll add one more tip: Buy tons of stuff from the commissary and hand it out to your new friends. It's a proven strategy. That's what Jeffrey Epstein did and he got through his bit just fine. [CNNMoney]

The Post has a follow-up to its story last week about the Hasidic man who hosted a bar mitzvah party for his son at the downtown prison known as the Tombs. It turns out the prison chaplain, an Orthodox rabbi, also allowed the same inmate to host an engagement party for his daughter a few months later. And he wasn't the only inmate who received special treatment. Another inmate was permitted to have a satellite truck set up outside the prison complex so he could watch a relative's wedding via a live feed from Israel; other inmates were allowed access to the rabbi's private office, so they could use his "unmonitored phone to call sports bookies and criminal cohorts." The rabbi hasn't been dismissed yet; he's only been suspended for two weeks. So if you're planning to commit a crime, it really couldn't hurt to keep this costume with you at all times. Even if you don't get caught, at the very least you won't have to go shopping when Halloween rolls around next year. [NYP]

Not Kosher: Prison Parties | Mayor Bloomberg says the city will launch an investigation into who permitted an inmate at the Tombs to host a bar mitzvah for his son inside the prison, an event that included catered food, 60 guests, and six hours of hora dancing. "Clearly, this is not something that should have taken place," Bloomberg said this afternoon. Should we take this as a sign Bernie Madoff's jailhouse Passover seder is not happening next year? [NYP]