Benny Geritano, who in April got into a knife fight on Smith Street with Lucali's owner Mark Iacono, is finally getting out of the slammer—for health reasons. However the judge who agreed to his house-arrest release warned the former member of the bank-robbing "Night Drop Crew" that if he so much as goes "down the street for a pizza or something" it'll be right back to the pokey for Benny. more ›

If you (or your super-rich third wife) are shelling out $50,000/month for a TriBeCa townhouse to live in during your house arrest, you probably want to take advantage of the roof terrace, right? The Post thinks there's a party happening at 153 Franklin Street—aka the current residence of accused sexual assaulter and leading French politician, Dominique Strauss-Kahn—because "Flunkies outside Strauss-Kahn's...townhouse were spotted removing boxes for outdoor-patio umbrellas. The umbrellas will be perfect to shield the onetime French presidential contender from the sun -- and prying eyes of the press -- when he steps out onto his townhouse's elaborate planted terrace." more ›

While ex-IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn cools his heels at the hot tourist attraction 71 Broadway, new complaints about inappropriate conduct by the French politician have come to light. None of the women the Post has dug up claim the "great seducer" did anything to them, but the stories of his lame attempts to woo will likely not help his reputation here—though thanks to conspiracy theories, his reputation in France seems to be doing okay. more ›

Ex-IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is out on bail on sexual assault charges, is currently holed up in an apartment at 71 Broadway, hidden from the media and overseen by round-the-clock armed guards—we guess he can take down "his" Craigslist posting now. And he's already making friends! New neighbor Andrew Auernheimer, the hacker who released iPad emails to Gawker, gave Strauss-Kahn high praise to the Post: "He's an OK guy...I think he is misjudged by the public. I don't want to say they trapped him, but it seems like there's more to this story. I'd like to talk to him more about it, but I'm sure he won't tell me." more ›

Remember how corrupt former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik was sentenced to four years in federal prison last month, for lying to the feds, tax fraud, and accepting $250,000 in apartment renovations from a mobbed-up company? One might assume Kerik is kicking it in some country club prison by now, but turns out that despite agreeing to a plea deal, he can appeal because the sentence exceeded the prosecutors' recommendation (33 months under federal guidelines). So Kerik, who's still under house arrest, just requested permission to travel to Washington to meet with a lawyer. And Judge Stephen Robinson, who told Kerik the case sent him to "a dark place in the soul" said no. Bernie is grounded. Can we get a ha-ha? more ›

The drug-dealing spawn of actor Michael Douglas, 31-year-old Cameron, will remain behind bars until his sentencing in April. He faces up to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to dealing crystal meth and cocaine. A Manhattan federal judge denied bail yesterday saying he couldn't be trusted on house arrest (last time they tried that his girlfriend delivered him heroin in an electric toothbrush). more ›

Even though prosecutors say his job is a sham, a judge ruled that convicted mafia racketeer Dominick Dionisio will be allowed to continue working at the popular Brooklyn pizzeria Lucali while he is on house arrest. more ›

Disgraced former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik was released from jail last night on $1.5 million bond and placed under house arrest as he awaits his February sentencing on various federal crimes. For the next few months, Kerik must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and is not allowed to set foot outside his $2.5 million home in Franklin Lakes, N.J., except to visit lawyers, his church, and a hospital emergency room, if necessary. He's also allowed to meet with accountants fixing his fraudulent tax returns, but yesterday a judge denied Kerik's request to walk his children to school, telling him, "This is not home confinement with morning strolls and afternoon strolls." more ›

The federal judge who sent Bernie Madoff away released 173 pages of letters and emails that victims of the Ponzi scheme had sent in before he pleaded guilty. Their names and addresses were blocked out, only the cities from which they wrote remained for most. Investors lashed out both at Madoff and his wife Ruth in their letters. Some quotes highlighted in today's local papers include: more ›

Earlier today, Bernard Madoff's lawyer asked an appeals court to release the admitted Ponzi schemer, while federal prosecutors argued that he should stay behind bars. One judge pointed out that Madoff could have fled with "$100 million and settled in some tropical republic, yet he didn't do that," instead of admitting his fraud, adding, "He was a respected citizen who could travel as he liked. Why isn't that really a powerful argument against your position?" To which Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Litt said, "It's an argument, not a powerful one"; Litt also said that house arrest was unacceptable since guards could be bribed or fall asleep. The judges didn't immediately issue a ruling; Madoff did not appear in court. more ›

Not even in the clink for 24 hours and Bernard Madoff is looking to get out of jail. The disgraced financier's lawyers filed an appeal to get the 70-year-old out of his Metropolitan Correctional Center jail cell today. The filing reads, "Since his arrest, Mr. Madoff has complied at all times with the extraordinarily restrictive bail conditions imposed upon him. He has not attempted to flee nor has he attempted to harm any individual or the community." more ›

Marc Dreier, the attorney who once had a firm of hundreds and now stands accused of a $380 million fraud, was allowed to go home on $10 million bail. He will be "forced" to stay in his, Bloomberg News notes, "luxury East-Side Manhattan apartment, watched by armed guards around the clock and subject to electronic monitoring and other precautions to ensure he doesn’t flee." One interesting detail reported by the Daily News: "Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff clarified the conditions for Dreier by emphasizing that his Feb. 8 order doesn't prohibit 'lethal force' to subdue a fleeing Dreier." Which means the guards, that Dreier must pay for, can use their guns to shoot at him if he tries to escape! more ›

Marc Dreier, the once prominent attorney accused of swindling hundreds of millions from hedge funds and investors alike, was given bail by a federal judge yesterday. However, the NY Times reports, "The conditions set by the judge are so restrictive that even if Mr. Dreier posts the $10 million bond that the judge required — which could happen by early next week — Mr. Dreier would be holed up in what might be considered a fancy prison." Well, Dreier's lawyer did want a Madoff-like bail! Among the restrictions proposed: An electronic monitoring device, a security guard, approval of visitors and "no call forwarding, no modem, no caller ID, no call waiting and no wireless phone." more ›

Guess who's getting tired of being locked up in his East 64th Street penthouse, instead of jail? The Post reports that $50 billion Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff has, according to a source, complained about his gilded cage, whining, "I'm a prisoner in my own house! I can't go anywhere! I'm stuck here all day!" Tell it to the judge who allowed you to stay at home! And lest you think Madoff can surf the Internet (and, you know, read celebrity gossip and transfer funds to off-shore accounts), his web and phone habits are being tracked. more ›