Madoff Investors Under Investigation

File under “honor among thieves?” A group of prominent investors in Bernard Madoff’s failed financial enterprise are being investigated by the U.S. attorney’s office in New York City for allegedly playing Madoff’s fraudulent system to their advantage.

The Wall Street Journal:

Messrs. Picower and Chais already have been accused of seeking fictitious gains in civil lawsuits brought against them by Irving Picard, an attorney at Baker & Hostetler LLP who is trustee in the bankruptcy liquidation of Mr. Madoff’s firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. As part of his effort to recover assets for Mr. Madoff’s victims, Mr. Picard alleged that Messrs. Picower and Chais sought — and then received — better returns than thousands of other Madoff investors.

In some cases, their returns reached 300% or 950% a year, Mr. Picard has alleged. The two men made withdrawals from Mr. Madoff’s firm of more than $6 billion in supposed profits above and beyond the principal they deposited for themselves, family members and foundations, the lawsuits allege.

Messrs. Picower and Chais have denied the claims, either directly or through their lawyers. A lawyer for Mr. Madoff declined to comment on Mr. Picard’s allegations or the criminal probe of investors.

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