Judge tells Manafort that he 'faces the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison'

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort is in big legal trouble -- and a judge this week said there's a good chance that he could die in prison.

Politico reports that a new ruling by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III that was made public on Tuesday reveals that the judge believes Manafort is a significant risk to try to escape custody because the weight of evidence against him appears to be so strong.

"Given the nature of the charges against the defendant and the apparent weight of the evidence against him, defendant faces the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison," wrote Ellis, who recommended that Manafort be kept on "24-hour-a-day lockdown" at his residence in Alexandria, Virginia.

Per the judge's ruling, Manafort is only allowed to leave his residence for medical appointments, and for legal meetings and court appearances related to the multiple money laundering charges being leveled against him.

Ellis also wrote that Manafort has the means to escape and would certainly try to do so given the opportunity.

"The defendant is a person of great wealth who has the financial means and international connections to flee and remain at large, as well as every incentive to do so," the judge wrote.