Bernard and Ruth Madoff

The Madoffs are trying to pull a fast one again. This time they are claiming in court documents that his wife, Ruth Madoff, is entitled to keep nearly $75 million dollars in assets, stating they were not related to the ponzi fraud.

However, she went into the marriage with nothing, as did he. They were high school sweethearts from Queens. Therefore, how could all those assets be her property.

This large sum of money was made from criminally ripping off investors, who unwittingly placed their funds in a ponzi scheme. She is not entitled to a penny of that money. All the assets of the Madoff family, sons and their families included who reaped millions, should be seized by the government.

Andy and Ruth Madoff

The government has only found $900 million dollars in assets. There is still another $20-50 billion unaccounted for. According to a television report on ABC, some of the money was sent to Switzerland and a portion of it was placed in Africa.

Clearly, some of the money was paid out to investors to keep the terrible ponzi scheme going for over a decade, while a lot of it sustained the Madoffs' very lavish lifestyle that included expensive, sprawling homes, private jets, cars, a yacht, furnishings, silverware and vacations.

I think that family should be indicted, as I do not believe they were in the dark about his misconduct and they are scratching and clawing like beasts to keep the illegal gains from the criminal misconduct, with the wife, Ruth, having controlled the bank accounts. You should be penniless after living the high life on that stolen, blood money...literally, as two people have died in suicides, as a result of this case.

Court filing reveals Madoff's net worth at least $823 million

NEW YORK — Convicted swindler Bernard Madoff and his wife, Ruth, owned net assets of at least $823 million as of the close of 2008, newly filed court records showed Friday.

•Homes in Manhattan, Montauk, Palm Beach and France: $22 million.

•Cash: $17 million

•Securities: $45 million.

•Madoff's net ownership interest in his investment business: $700 million.

•Four boats, including a 2006 yacht in France called "Bull": $9.3 million.

•A 50% interest in a charter jet: $12 million.

•Ruth Madoff's jewelry: $2.6 million.

•A Steinway piano and silverware in couple's $7 million Manhattan apartment: $104,000.

In all, the sworn statement, signed by Madoff on Dec. 31, listed total assets between $823 million and $826 million, and total liabilities of $265,000. The statement was prepared for the Securities and Exchange Commission, but was not previously made public.

http://www.usatoday.com