Sunday, December 12, 2010

Mark Madoff, son of imprisoned investment fraud figure Bernard Madoff, commits suicide

Family members found Mark Madoff in his New York apartment after he hanged himself on the second anniversary of the arrest of his father, sources say. Mark Madoff and his younger brother worked for their father but were never charged, though authorities say they continue to investigate.

The oldest son of Bernard Madoff committed suicide on Saturday morning, his attorney said.

Mark Madoff was found by family members in his New York apartment Saturday morning, according to law enforcement sources.

The sources said that Madoff hanged himself using a black dog leash and was found by his father-in-law.

Saturday is the second anniversary of Bernard Madoff's arrest in what is thought to be the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history.

Madoff, 46, was the head trader at his father's firm.

Mark and his younger brother Andrew Madoff, who also worked at the firm, have denied they knew about the fraud.

"Mark was an innocent victim of his father's monstrous crime who succumbed to two years of unrelenting pressure from false accusations and innuendo," his lawyer, Martin Flumenbaum, said in a statement.

No charges have been brought against the brothers, but authorities have said they are continuing to investigate.

In the fall of 2009 the brothers, their uncle and their cousin were sued for almost $200 million by the trustee who is collecting money for victims of Madoff.

Earlier this week the trustee filed another suit against the brothers and other family members in a British court.

The Madoff brothers reportedly went to the authorities after their father confessed his crime to them on Dec. 10, 2008. A day later Bernard Madoff was arrested.

Madoff is in federal prison in North Carolina serving a 150-year sentence.

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