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SEC Probed Madoff 8 Times, Came Up Empty

Congress questions watchdog's ability to keep up with fraud

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Jan 5, 2009 4:38 AM CST

(Newser) – Congress begins a probe today into why federal regulators who examined Bernie Madoff's investments eight times in 16 years failed to sniff out his decades-long $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Among those in the hot seat is Barack Obama's appointee for SEC chair. Mary Schapiro was involved in several of the fruitless investigations, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The SEC's failure to discover the burgeoning Madoff problem raises doubts about whether it can keep up with fraudsters. Each Madoff investigation missed the underlying problem, and apparently focused on unrelated practices, say observers. It's not clear whether investigators ever looked into bank records to confirm whether trades even took place. In 2007 an industry watchdog reported Madoff's firm didn't seem to have any customers.

Mary Schapiro, Obama's designate for SEC chair, was involved in several of the failed Madoff probes.
Mary Schapiro, Obama's designate for SEC chair, was involved in several of the failed Madoff probes.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
SEC officials missed Bernie Madoff's finance scheme despite eight different probes into his firm.
SEC officials missed Bernie Madoff's finance scheme despite eight different probes into his firm.
Madoff successfully misled the SEC in eight investigations and two interviews.
Madoff successfully misled the SEC in eight investigations and two interviews.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow,File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Newser001
Jan 4, 2009 10:43 PM CST
The relationship between Madoff and the SEC was an unhealthy one, at best... There was a marriage between a daughter and a son between both parties... That and other relationships, raises some serious ethical questions, as well as eyebrows.... 8 formal investigations, and now - Evidence leaning towards governmental / administrative impropriety (demeanor)...? Begs the question - How hight does this go?

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