Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Madoff Waives Indictment; Guilty Plea Up Next?
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 6, 2009
Modified Mar 6, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 6, 2009
Modified Mar 6, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Fraudulent investor Bernard Madoff appears to be ready to enter a guilty plea, as he has just waived his indictment (meaning he's waiving the right to have a grand jury to review the charges). The Law Blog reports, "The waiver could presage a plea deal for Madoff. Often, prior to a plea, a defendant will waive his or her right to a grand-jury indictment. In such a case, the prosecutors’ 'charging document' — the document which lays out the case against the defendant — is called an 'information.'" (This morning, the U.S. Attorney's Office said it would file an "information".)
Newsday reports that speculation about a plea deal arose "when a special court hearing about a potential conflict of interest with his lawyer was quickly postponed, just hours after federal prosecutors in Manhattan had requested it." (The conflicts are that Madoff's lawyer Ira Sorkin's parents invested in Madoff's fake fund and that Sorkin represented accountants accused of setting up a feeder fund to Madoff.)
It's unclear when the information will be filed and when the guilty plea will be entered. Right now, there are doubts about whether Madoff's far-reaching fraud was the estimated $50 billion—the Associated Press reports "some believe it's less than $20 billion." SIPC president Stephen Harbeck said he couldn't venture a guess, but added, "I think it's somewhat misleading to say this was a $50 billion scheme because I believe that includes the fictitious profits. If that is the case, and I believe it to be the case, then the real dollars lost would be considerably lower."
Update: The Law Blog has new details: "According to the WSJ’s Amir Efrati, citing a person familiar with the matter, no plea agreement is expected soon between prosecutors and Madoff. At a hearing next Thursday, the government is expected to file the information, which will lay out allegations against Mr. Madoff and list numerous criminal charges against him. At that point, Madoff may say that he plans to plead guilty to the charges or that he would like to go to trial."
On the topic of whether Madoff's wife Ruth can keep nearly $70 million in assets and property, Wayne State law professor Peter Henning writes on the Dealbook that though the items are in Ruth Madoff's name, "Simply putting assets into another person’s name, or giving them as a gift, does not necessarily shield them when they are the proceeds of criminal activity." Thought so!
Tagged
Bernard Madoff
guilty plea
indictment
ponzi scheme
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .