Bernard Madoff $50 Billion Ponzi Scheme

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U.S. judge won't overturn convictions of five ex-Madoff employees

NEW YORK, July 24 Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:48pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/24/madoff-employees-idUSL2N0PZ2K820140724

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - The federal judge who oversaw the trial of five associates of imprisoned swindler Bernard Madoff refused to overturn their convictions for helping their former boss run one of the world's biggest Ponzi schemes.

U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain said on Thursday there was sufficient evidence for jurors to have convicted back-office director Daniel Bonventre, portfolio managers Annette Bongiorno and Joann Crupi, and computer programmers Jerome O'Hara and George Perez on all counts they faced, including securities fraud and conspiracy to defraud.

Swain also rejected the defendants' alternative argument that they deserved a new trial because prosecutors made improper remarks during their opening and closing statements.

The defendants were convicted on March 24, and are scheduled to be sentenced in mid-September. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/24/madoff-employees-idUSL2N0PZ2K820140724