HUFFINGTON POST/AP: Five former employees of imprisoned financier Bernard Madoff were convicted of conspiracy Monday to cap a six-month trial in which they were accused of enriching themselves while telling an elaborate web of lies to hide a fraud that cheated investors of billions of dollars.
The trial — one of the longest in the storied history of Manhattan federal court — was the first to result from the massive fraud revealed in December 2008 when Madoff ran out of money and was arrested. He pleaded guilty and is serving a 150-year prison sentence.
The trial focused on five people who prosecutors said helped him carry out the fraud.
Prosecutors unveiled hundreds of exhibits and showcased dozens of witnesses to try to prove charges against Annette Bongiorno, Madoff’s longtime secretary; Daniel Bonventre, his director of operations for investments; JoAnn Crupi, an account manager; and Jerome O’Hara and George Perez, both computer programmers… (more)
