$400M Ponzi Lawyer Gets 20 Years

Investment scam doesn't appear to hinder family's holiday spending

(NEWSER) - Watching investors lose their shirts on Bernard Madoff’s investments didn’t deter his son and daughter-in-law from a holiday shopping spree yesterday, the New York Post reports. Andrew Madoff, who worked for Dad’s failed financial firm, and wife Deborah power-shopped SoHo, snapping up items from J.Crew, Kidrobot, Longchamp, and American Eagle. The two have been separated for a year, the Post adds, and Deborah served him divorce papers the same day his dad was arrested. More»

Accused scamster made exclusivity his scheme's selling point

(NEWSER) - Bernard Madoff rose to fame and fortune as one of America's top financial insiders but he never stopped acting like an outsider, associates tell the Wall Street Journal. Despite his reputation as outgoing "Uncle Bernie," the disgraced financier was often ill at ease socially and could be brusque with clients—especially when they asked too many questions. More»

(NEWSER) - Investigators see yesterday's guilty plea of Bernard Madoff's right-hand man as a major breakthrough in their efforts to untangle the elaborate Ponzi scheme, BusinessWeek reports. Frank DiPascali, chief financial officer at Madoff's firm, has promised to cooperate with prosecutors and is expected to name other people involved in the scam and to help trace assets Madoff may have stashed around the world. More»

(NEWSER) - Ruth Madoff won't be able to spend $100 without scrutiny under a deal approved by a bankruptcy judge overseeing the liquidation of her husband's financial firm, the Wall Street Journal reports. Madoff agreed to give a full accounting of her income and any spending over $100 to a court-appointed trustee acting for victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. More»

Bankruptcy trustee says fraudster's wife received more than she'll admit to

(NEWSER) - The trustee in the Bernie Madoff case sued the swindler's wife today to demand the return of $44 million to bilked investors, Newsday reports. The complaint doesn't allege criminal activity by Ruth Madoff but says she directly received funds from her husband’s multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme. Ruth Madoff gave up all but $2.5 million of her assets in a forfeiture deal last month, but she's not protected from lawsuits. More»