Ask AP: Geo-Engineering, Bernard Madoff's Assets

Purposely polluting the upper atmosphere? Reflecting sunlight with giant space mirrors?

FILE - In this March 10, 2009 file photo, Bernard Madoff exits Manhattan federal court in New York. ...

FILE - In this March 10, 2009 file photo, Bernard Madoff exits Manhattan federal court in New York. A reader-submitted question about selling and distributing Madoff's assets to those who have proof of being involved in his scam is being answered as part of an Associated Press Q&A column called "Ask AP." (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano, file)

(AP)

These aren't the tactics of a Hollywood supervillain — they're controversial "geo-engineering" ideas that some say would help combat global warming.

Is there any chance they would help?

Curiosity about geo-engineering inspired one of the questions in this edition of "Ask AP," a weekly Q&A column where AP journalists respond to readers' questions about the news.

If you have your own news-related question that you'd like to see answered by an AP reporter or editor, send it to newsquestions@ap.org, with "Ask AP" in the subject line. And please include your full name and hometown so they can be published with your question.

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I recently watched a couple of news reports on the devastation that Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme has done to investors' lives and all they worked for. Have or will his assets be sold and distributed to those who have proof of being victims of his scam?

Rick Vehovc

Springfield, Ill.

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Bernard Madoff's personal assets, estimated to be worth about $100 million, are being sold now so the money can be distributed to Madoff's thousands of victims.

Just days ago, the U.S. Marshals Service announced that Madoff's Long Island beach house sold for $9.41 million, more than a half million more than the asking price. His Manhattan penthouse is on sale for $10 million and his Florida property is being offered for $8.5 million.

Meanwhile, the government is selling his yachts and other treasures for tens of millions of dollars more.

In addition, a court-appointed trustee has sued Madoff's family members to recover nearly $200 million that he says they received as a result of the fraud. But the trustee, Irving Picard, has not stopped there. He is also suing some of Madoff's customers — people he says received so much more than they invested that they must have known that a fraud was happening.