Investors ask to be heard at Madoff plea hearing
NEW YORK -- Federal prosecutors said Monday they've received at least 25 e-mail requests from investors who want to speak at Thursday's scheduled plea proceeding for disgraced financier Bernard Madoff.
An additional 11 investors sent e-mails about acceptance of a potential guilty plea from the alleged architect of a global financial scam, while 27 wrote in about Madoff sentencing and forfeiture issues, prosecutors said.
The e-mails, 78 in all as of late Monday afternoon, were outlined in a letter prosecutors sent to U.S. District Judge Denny Chin, who last week set a 10 a.m. Wednesday deadline for Madoff investors to file speaking requests. Citing privacy restrictions, prosecutors asked that identifying data about the investors be filed under court seal. They did not say whether each e-mail involved a single investor or multiple Madoff victims.
The responses so far came amid signs that Madoff, who's under house arrest, could plead guilty at the hearing. He has waived a grand jury indictment, defense lawyers said last week.
Additionally, prosecutors disclosed plans to file a court information against Madoff. That procedure is often used when both sides have agreed on a plea.
Ronnie Sue Ambrosino, who runs a support group for 350 other victims of the alleged scam, said at least eight investors would seek speaking time. Others will file letters, said Ambrosino, who, with her husband, Dominic, lost more than $1.6 million in life savings.
Before accepting a plea, Chin should ensure "that every penny of this man has been accounted for, and every penny of anyone who helped him has been accounted for," said Ambrosino.
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