[JURIST] Assistant US Attorney Marc Litt on Tuesday urged that Bernard Madoff [JURIST news archive] be jailed, in a brief [text, PDF] filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York [official website]. Litt alleges that Madoff mailed valuable jewelry to family members in violation of a court order prohibiting him from disposing of or concealing any assets. Madoff allegedly sent a package that could be valued at more than $1 million containing approximately 13 watches, a diamond necklace, an emerald ring, and two sets of cufflinks. Litt argued:

The need for detention in this case is clear. The continued release of the defendant presents a danger to the community of additional economic harm and further obstruction of justice. ... Monetary penalties, including restitution and forfeiture, are an important part of justice and will, in the event of a conviction, be part of any sentence in this case. Dissipation of the defendant's assets through transfer to third parties obstruct justice within the meaning of the bail statute because they make it more difficult, if not impossible, to recover all available forfeitable assets to recompense victims.