Ex-financier Madoff to plead guilty

Former US financier accused of huge fraud could spend rest of his life in jail.

Bernard Madoff
Madoff is expected to plead guilty to 11 criminal charges relating to a $50bn fraud scheme [AFP]

But US authorities have revealed 10 additional charges against him, including investment adviser fraud, false statements, mail fraud, perjury and three counts of money-laundering, according to court documents filed on Tuesday.

No plea deal

Madoff, 70, has confessed to investigators that he ran the scheme – in which early investors are paid off with the money of newer clients – over many years with losses of $50bn.

“There is no plea agreement,” Marc Litt, assistant US attorney, said at a hearing for Madoff on Tuesday before a US judge in New York.

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“He must plead guilty to all 11 counts.”

Al Jazeera’s John Terrett, reporting outside the courthouse in New York, said Madoff is accused with “quite literally masterminding the biggest swindle in US financial history”.

Brad Freedman, a lawyer representing about 100 of the victims, said that while some of those who lost their investments to Madoff were celebrities or “super wealthy”, most were not.

“Most of the victims are people who worked their entire lives … put their life savings with Mr Madoff, and lost the entirety of it,” Freedman told Al Jazeera.

Madoff faces up to 150 years in prison if convicted.

The judge trying the case said he will not sentence Madoff on Thursday, and that the victims of the alleged fraud will be heard in court.

Madoff has been under house arrest in his $7m Manhattan apartment as part of his $10m bail, which has also required his assets to be frozen.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies