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Disgraced lawyer Marc Dreier pleaded guilty yesterday to a long list of charges and he may face life in prison when he's sentenced on July 13. In the meantime, though, it's time to celebrate! Today is Dreier's 59th birthday, and not even the prospect of spending the rest of his life in the clink can take that away from him. Even better: The judge allowed him to return to his massive Midtown apartment last night, where he's under house arrest and watched over by guards who cost Dreier $23,000 a month.

Actually, it's not technically Dreier's money: Since his assets have been seized, it's his sister, 88-year-old mother, and a friend who have been paying the security bills. (His food budget, Dreier's attorney says, was taken from bar mitzvah gifts that were given to his son, Spencer.)

As a condition of his bail, Dreier had to sign a form giving his guards permission to use lethal force to stop him from fleeing. Of course, if you look around the apartment that will be his home for the next two months, you'll appreciate why he won't mind his home confinement one bit.

Dreier Pleads Guilty to Fraud; Faces Life in Prison [Bloomberg]
Previously: Marc Dreier's Luxury Prison Revealed!