How High Was the Largest Bail Bond Ever Set?

An arrest is frightening for most people, especially if they have never been arrested. Once booked and processed, most defendants want their bail hearing to take place so they can get out of jail right away.

Some people become shocked when the judge announces their bail amount, or they deny bail altogether. While most bail amounts hover around $500 for misdemeanors and up to $50,000 for felonies, there have been truly high bail amounts throughout history. So, what is the highest bail ever set? Keep reading to find out!

What Determines the Bail Amount?

Before delving into the record for the highest bail bond, you need to understand what determines the bail amount. A judge is responsible for deciding on the bail amount. The following are some of the factors the judge considers when setting bail.

• Seriousness of the current criminal charges
• Criminal history
• Employment of the defendant
• Ties to the community
• Risk to the community
• Flight risk (bond jumping)

While minor crimes may allow a person to get out on their own recognizance or with a low bail amount, felonies, such as murder, can lead to bail amounts as high as $1,000,000. While you might think bail bonds can't go higher, modern history reveals otherwise.

Other High Bail Bond Amounts

Throughout modern history, there have been some shocking bail bond amounts set by judges across the United States and the world. Let's look at some honorable mentions in this category to see just how a high bail bond can go for defendants.

Bernie Madoff

You have likely heard of Bernie Madoff, who defrauded thousands of dollars from investors in a Ponzi Scheme. Some of his famous victims include Kevin Bacon and Steven Spielberg.

Believe it or not, this criminal was charged with eleven federal felonies. Some of the charges included money laundering, wire fraud, and securities fraud.

In 2008, the presiding judge set Madoff's bail at a whopping $10,000,000. He was also required to remain at home under 24-hour arrest.

Although this bail amount seems extravagant, Maddoff was a billionaire, so his bail was relatively low when considering his riches. Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison.

Samir Ramadan

Samir Ramadan was caught running a cigarette ring that made over $50 million in profits. Not only was this man illegally selling cigarettes, but he was also funneling money to terrorist groups like HAMAS. The judge set this criminal's bail at $15 million.

Marion “Suge” Knight

Suge Knight was once a rap mogul on top of his game. In 2015, he was charged with a hit-and-run incident that resulted in murder charges. Knight was given a $25,000,000 bail by the judge. He was so shocked that he collapsed in court. Suge ended up being sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Naason Joaquin Garcia

Naason Joaquin Garcia was the head of a Mexican church. Eventually, the church claimed to have over one million members. In 2019, he was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport. Garcia was charged with 26 felonies.

He was charged with the rape of a minor, human trafficking, and child pornography. Because Naason was considered a major flight risk, this earned him a $50,000,000 bail.

Tiffany Li

Tiffany Li was charged with the murder of Keith Green in 2017. She was smacked with a $66,000,000 bail amount. Her family was wealthy and had a major influence in both the United States and China, which caused her to be a flight risk.

Tiffany was given a $33,000,000 bail by the judge. She ended up being found not guilty of the accused murder charge.

Raj Rajaratnam

Raj Rajaratnam was the founder of the Galleon Group, which was once one of the most expansive hedge fund management firms in the world. In 2015, he was charged with and accused of massive counts of conspiracy, insider trading, and fraud.

Because of his wealth and ties to foreign countries, he was considered a significant flight risk. The judge agreed to give Rajaratnam a bail of $100,000,000. He ended up being sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Christopher Williams

In 2010, Williams was charged with a long list of felonies, including attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and carjacking. Because this defendant had a prior history of jumping bail and many violent crimes, the judge handed down a bail amount of $100,000,000.

Michael Milken

In the 1980s, Michael Milken was accused of and charged with conspiracy and securities fraud, insider trading, filing false tax returns, and mail fraud. During this time, Milken was one of the highest-paid men on Wall Street. Milken's bail was set at 250 million dollars.

How to Pay Bail

If a loved one or friend has called you asking for help with bail, you have several options. You can post bail in the following ways.

• Pay the full amount with cash, cashier check, or money order.
• Put up property with the value of the bail amount.
• Hire a bail bondsman to post a bond for the defendant. This requires a percentage fee.

When the bail is simply too high to pay, individuals often seek services from a bondsman. Paying a fee and hiring these professionals ensures the defendant is released as quickly as possible.

Get Answers to Your Questions

No one wants to get that call that a person they love is in jail. There are often many concerns and decisions to make, and you likely have many questions.

We are here to help you understand your options and make sense of the process. Contact us today for answers to your questions. We will be happy to assist you through the process of bailing a friend or loved one out by hiring a bail bondsman to help. Contact us right away to get started.

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