">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Betrayal in Palm Beach as Wall Street scam bites
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Betrayal in Palm Beach as Wall Street scam bites
AFP - 2 hours 31 minutes ago
PALM BEACH, Florida (AFP) - - The crime scene, according to prosecutors, is the 17th floor of a stately New York office building, where Bernard Madoff may have engineered the most costly investment swindle in history.
But nowhere was the deception felt more personally than in Palm Beach, Florida, the small and affluent island community where Madoff, a respected and former chairman of the Nasdaq, lived part time.
In what now feels like an inside job, Madoff carefully recruited a cadre of trusting and wealthy acquaintances from the island to invest millions -- money that ended up fueling an alleged 50 billion dollar pyramid scheme.
"The community is in shock. No one imagined a guy like that would do this to his friends," said Carlos Carraca, a resident on the north end of the island, adding people were speaking of little else, in restaurants and as they crossed path while running errands, or out walking the dog.
"A lot of families have been ruined," he said. "Some people have lost everything, millions."
The scandal began to unravel Thursday, when federal agents arrested Madoff, 70, at his Manhattan home.
A giant in the financial services world , he was charged with massive fraud and freed on 10 million dollar bond.
By the weekend, the financial fallout had spread far beyond New York. Press reports revealed shareholders and clients from major European banks, including France's BNP Paribas, stood to lose billions of euros.
Even foundations set up by Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel and by film director Steven Spielberg were swept into the scandal.
Investigators charge Madoff paid off early investors with money from new clients, creating a huge pyramid scheme. As markets declined and investors tried to withdraw their money, the scheme apparently fell apart.
While most affected investors had entrusted their money to advisory firms that paid Madoff to manage funds, Palm Beach investors experienced a closer degree of deceit.
Many are thought to be members of the Palm Beach Country Club who saw Madoff as a long-time cohort and and friend.
In a sign of the sophistication of Madoff's alleged scheme, the predominantly Jewish club includes many people who have built up fortunes of their own, and consider themselves financially savvy.
A woman answering phones at the country club said "We have no comment," on the Madoff scandal and hung up.
"It was one of their own that betrayed them," said Laurence Leamer, author of the upcoming book, "Madness Under the Royal Palms," about the island's elite.
"It's the ultimate enclave of the mega-wealthy in America. Literally everyone there is a millionaire."
Known for its rolling golf greens and elegant old Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach has a seasonal population of about 30,000. Residents of the cozy community include corporate titans, best-selling authors, athletes and top philanthropists.
Madoff's arrest has also sparked speculation that prominent Jewish charities might see funds dry up as rich donors absorb the financial blow.
Norman Braman, CEO of Braman Motors in Miami, said he had invested money with Madoff, like others, because of his stellar reputation.
By some accounts, Wall Street brokers referred to Madoff as "the Jewish T-bill" because he was seen as a conservative investor who offered low but steady returns.
Treasury bills are among the safest financial instruments.
Madoff also enjoyed clout -- and trust -- from having served as chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Braman declined to say how much money he might lose, and pointed instead to other clients who had lost everything.
"My situation, my lifestyle, my philanthropy are not going to be changed," he said. "But the people he's destroyed, the charities he's hurt, that's incalculable and a true tragedy ... the widows, the retirees."
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
Judge sentences Hollywood private eye to 15 yearsAP - Tuesday, December 16
Feds say Follieri agrees he owes $3.6 millionAP - Tuesday, December 16
Dennis Quaid, wife, settle with hospitalAP - Tuesday, December 16
Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber welcome baby SamuelAP - Tuesday, December 16
Jury rules Pickford agreement is validAP - Tuesday, December 16
Enlarge Photo
A Rolls Royce is seen parked on Worth Avenue, the shopping centre in Palm Beach, Florida. Wall Street investor Bernard Madoff may have engineered the most costly swindle in history and in the affluent Florida community where Madoff lived part-time, a cadre of trusting and wealthy acquaintances were used to fuel an alleged US$50 billion pyramid scheme.
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
US pyramid fraud scam hits Europe's biggest bank
Bush laughs off Iraq flying shoes drama
Queen Elizabeth II reins in extravagance as credit crunch grips
Arabs hail shoe attack as Bush's farewell gift
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Other News on Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Confinement nanny agencies looking to hire more locals
MFA welcomes direct air, sea, postal links across Taiwan Strait
Bird flu confirmed in eastern India
Record 10,000 wishing spheres to be lit during New Year’s Eve countdown
black88box.awardspace.com
black88box.awardspace.com
Bush's Iraq-Afghan farewell tour marred by dissent
Secondary One posting results to be released on December 18
Lye, boric acid banned as food additives in China
Report: Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber welcome a son
Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige to be honored by BET
Mobile phone to be main Web tool in 2020: survey
More ex—national footballers upgrading to better prepare for a second career
Iraqis demand release of shoe-hurling journalist
Modesty cast aside as Russia fetes Miss World win
James Gray to get Joaquin Phoenix 'out of retirement'
Inspector Derrick actor dies in Germany
Pakistan: No British access to Mumbai suspects
Gov't: 40 Taliban killed in Afghan-NATO operation
`American Idol' tweaks hit format for 8th season
Madonna's ex set to get $75 million in settlement
Pakistan rejects British request to grill Mumbai suspects: PM
Maddona settles divorce for 50M pounds ($76M)
Google reaffirms commitment to net neutrality
Two killed in suspected US missile strike in Pakistan: official
Israel frees 224 Palestinians, including groom
Thai opposition leader becomes prime minister
'Take my dog! He looks like David Bowie!'
Ex-`Sopranos' actor takes stand at murder trial
Web or sex? Nearly half of women would rather go online
Franklin show goes on after she misses award event
SCRABBLE maker Hasbro drops lawsuit over online word game
Cruise says he regrets 'glib' outburst on 'Today'
Blogger pleads guilty to G N' R leak
Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin head 'Godot' cast
Keanu Reeves sci-fi movie tops North America box office
US auto woes mean trouble for Japanese makers, too
More layoffs in publishing: This time at Macmillan
Bethlehem gears up for a busy Christmas
'Gypsy' moves up its B'way closing date to Jan. 11
Hospital music therapy room named for AC/DC singer
Rights group: Iraqi court falls short on fairness
German vows neo-Nazi crackdown after police stabbing
Israeli high court restricts West Bank barrier
Russian teenage gang jailed for racist murders
Oil falls after brief surge above 50 dollars
Tough corruption battle in Asia despite campaigns
| International
|
Arabs hail shoe attack as Bush's farewell gift
US: Detainee dies in US custody in Iraq
Crisis a word best spoken quietly in Russia
| International
|
Relatives cheer freed Palestinian prisoners
U.N.'s Ban urges stronger African unity on Zimbabwe
| International
|
UN official missing in Niger: government
Somali parliament backs prime minister, rift grows
| International
|
Rice says US, South Korea agree on nuclear talks
U.N. envoy missing in Niger: U.N. officials
| International
|
Thai opposition leader becomes prime minister
New 'Phantom' movie to be filmed in Australia
France's jailbreak king gets 17-year sentence
| International
|
Toshiba to cut memory chip output: report
Obama announces energy and environment team
Smokers can sue over 'light cigarettes': US court
Seoul shares open down after US losses; banks fall
Yahoo unveils new toolbar for Web browsing
| Technology
|
US pyramid fraud scam hits Europe's biggest banks
Google says plan would not threaten net neutrality
| Technology
|
JBS-Swift exports to S.Korea from Greeley halted
Nobel laureate urges Iran to release Blogfather
| Technology
|
World stocks pressured by scandal, uncertainty
Palm replaces CFO with eBay veteran
| Technology
|
S.Korea department store sales turn higher in Nov
Angola president off to China in search of investment
Oil falls after brief surge above 50 dollars
China loses appeal against WTO car parts ruling
Three-month decline in gas prices stalls briefly
Orascom Telecom starts mobile services in N. Korea
Madonna settles divorce for up to $92 million
| Entertainment
|
OPEC wild cards: Size of output cuts, Russian help
US auto woes spell trouble for Japanese makers too
Oil price surges past $50 per barrel in New York
Tom Cruise says he was arrogant in TV interview
| Entertainment
|
GLOBAL MARKETS-World equities rise, oil jumps ahead of OPEC
Hollywood sleuth Pellicano gets 15 years in prison
| Entertainment
|
Kuwait: OPEC inclined to cut production
German actor Tappert, star of Derrick, dies at 85
| Entertainment
|
Jack Black to guest-star on `The Office'
Women barred from selling Mary Pickford Oscar: court
Reeves has good box-office 'Day' with $30M debut
Jury rules Pickford agreement is valid
Migrant workers at sharp end of US economic crunch
Philippine ferry rescuers battle strong waves
UN ministerial meeting on Iranian nuclear program
Pakistan truckers refuse to haul NATO, US supplies
Bangladeshi 'Taj Mahal' owner slams critics
New Zealand refuses to back down on Fiji sanctions
Dennis Quaid, wife, settle with hospital
Singapore PSA Jan-Nov container traffic up 8.8 pct
Drug smugglers using Singapore for transit-report
Japan court to rule on British hostess slaying
Bollywood looks to make drama out of real-life tragedy
Japan, Australia to hold security talks
Yahoo's free email gets more social
NZ diplo faces Fiji expulsion in sanctions dispute
Judge sentences Hollywood private eye to 15 years
New Thai PM faces deep divisions, poor economy
RPT-GLOBAL MARKETS-Dlr weighed down before Fed, Asia stocks dip
Singapore says 2008 growth to be lower than 2.5pct
Nicole Kidman warned after breaking Aboriginal taboo: report
Goa's party season low-key after Mumbai attacks
Pakistan: US missile strike suspected in 2 deaths
Betrayal in Palm Beach as Wall Street scam bites
Asia beauty contest vote count was 'wrong': report
Economic crisis means brisk business for Spanish pawnshops
Singapore to convene wage council, may cut pensions
Australian couple loses home via Facebook
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
New Thai government to prioritise economy: ruling party
About 90 percent of all email is spam: Cisco
Israeli troops kill militant in West Bank
Quartet says U.S.-led Mideast talks irreversible
| International
|
Mumbai attacks caps year for citizen journalism: NowPublic
Israeli troops kill wanted Palestinian militant
Amnesty warns against 'potentially lethal' Tasers
Facebook used to find defendants in Australian court case
Fed eyes record low interest rates to battle deflation
Zimbabwe commander wounded in shooting: report
| International
|
Six powers, Arabs to discuss Iran nuclear issue
| International
|
Yemen arrests tribesmen over German hostages
| International
|
Private eye in Hollywood wiretap trial gets 15 yrs
Japan serial rapist sentenced to life
S.Korea Mirae to close Singapore unit, focus on HK
Apple U.S. Mac sales flat in November
| Technology
|
Obama unveils climate change team
ASEAN signs trade agreements to ward off slowdown
Obama unveils climate change team
Pakistan: US missile strike suspected in 2 deaths
Virgin Media rolls out superfast broadband
| Technology
|
Asian markets mixed, awaiting US Fed decision
Illinois moves to oust corruption-tainted governor
Rolex appeal fades as recession blues hit Singapore
Pakistan rupee down 1.7 pct on negative sentiment
Philippines declares Christmas cease-fire
Louis Vuitton cancels plan for Tokyo flagship store
Malaysia to protect witnesses in graft fight
Motorola wins China Telecom network upgrade work
| Technology
|
Pakistani shares fall; rupee weakens 1.7 pct
Female cyclist killed in road accident involving an SBS bus
Seoul shares end higher as autos, banks advance
SanDisk to cut production at facilities in Japan
| Technology
|
Protesters on bicycles defy Malaysia police
Oil prices steady at $44 ahead of OPEC meeting
Korea Hot Stocks- Eugene Inv, Hyundai Dept rise
Indian defense chief: no plans for military action
Isuzu, Toyota shelve development of clean diesel engine
Oil steady at $44 ahead of OPEC meeting
More than 130 Hollywood stars oppose strike vote
| Entertainment
|
SKorea slashes 2009 growth to three percent
Fox Reality is wed to Househusbands
| Entertainment
|
Japan Tobacco to scrap five overseas plants
S.Korean car exports seen falling 6 pct in 2009
Sharon Osbourne accused of Charm School fight
| Entertainment
|
Judge sentences Hollywood private eye to 15 years
Japanese toy craze Bakugan headed to big screen
| Entertainment
|
Egypt: no country for old maids
Rush on Denmark's prized Christmas tree expected despite crisis
Feds say Follieri agrees he owes $3.6 million
China still open to Tibet dialogue: govt
Tokyo businessman convicted of abducting British hostess
Philippines jobless ranks grow as economy slows
HSBC sees 10 pct Taiwan workforce reduction
Protests heat up over Australia's climate plan
China bans 17 harmful substances in food: govt
Tom Cruise taking risk with new film `Valkyrie'
Philippine rescuers search for 29 ferry passengers
Bangladesh celebrates 37 years of independence
George Lam, Sally Yeh living separately
New Thai government mulls cabinet as police stand guard
Eason Chen out to clinch the Top 10 awards again
Alec Su denies comeback of Little Tiger
Australia OKs Facebook for serving lien notice
China issues guidelines for ethnic harmony classes
Yuming & Jane Becoming a Couple
China won't rush to depreciate yuan -Barclays
India not planning to attack Pakistan: minister
Bangladesh prepares to lift state of emergency
Study shows Singapore safe from tsunamis
ASEAN nations press on with trade pacts
Bird flu found in chickens in eastern China
Afghan police: 3 die in checkpoint clash
Lucie Blackman's Tokyo abductor gets life sentence
S.Korea Hyundai Eng wins $334 mln Singapore order
S’pore and Indian Air Forces conduct joint military exercise in India
Indonesia urges resumption of world trade talks
Vendor sells Bradman 'Invincibles' cricket tour cap -- for loss
Australian activists deride PM's emissions targets
US hands over last female detainees in Iraq
Syria's Assad seeks Israeli stance on Golan: sources
| International
|
Dynamite found in Paris department store
Security Council set to back push for Middle East peace
Explosives found in Paris store after warning
| International
|
Ukraine parties sign coalition deal
Iraqi police: Bomb in downtown Baghdad wounds 6
Explosives defused in Paris department store: police
Madoff pyramid fraud puts US finance system in spotlight
Italian police arrest 100 in mafia sweep: report
Zimbabwe warns of 'terror' plot after air force chief shot
Dissident Tuareg rebel group says holding U.N. envoy
| International
|
Somali president names new prime minister
Somalia's fractured government slides into chaos
| International
|
ASEAN signs trade agreements to ward off slowdown
| International
|
Iraqi justice to probe case of Bush shoe assailant
Italy pursues 100 mobsters in anti-Mafia swoop
| International
|
Sri Lanka says 145 killed in northern fighting
Niger Tuareg rebel group claims kidnap of UN official
Over 2T tons of ice melted in arctic since '03
Japan man guilty of abducting, not killing Briton
| International
|
MM Lee says East Asia will be where the action is in next 50 years
JFK daughter confirms bid to enter Senate: governor
Japan workers protest massive wave of job cuts
Sarkozy: Others must match EU climate change cuts
Ex-Vodafone CEO won't pursue Yahoo job: FT
| Technology
|
ICA uncovers S$305k worth of duty—unpaid cigarettes
HK stocks rise amid China rate cut hopes
Sri Lanka says 2 rebels killed in fight for town
Obama selects green energy, environment team
Citigroup to sell Japanese trust banking unit
Metallica, Pearl Jam get their games on
| Technology
|
Indian defense chief: no plans for military action
HSBC says to cut 300 jobs in Taiwan
China critic who signed rights charter still held
North East CDC sees 25% spike in number of walk—ins looking for jobs
AirAsia offers 100,000 free tickets to Thailand
China says within rights to block some websites
| Technology
|
Sculpture of "10 Sages of the World" unveiled at MDIS
Taiwan says to support struggling DRAM industry
South Korea sets ambitious growth target for 2009
Oil rises to $45 ahead of OPEC meeting
Indonesia may scrap plans to tag AIDS patients
Pakistan sets 10 bln rupee target for Islamic bond
OPEC set for major output cut later this week
Talent to get more time on American Idol
| Entertainment
|
Rourke's Oscar campaign too much of a good thing?
| Entertainment
|
Dave Matthews Band kicking off tour in April
| Entertainment
|
Cheech and Chong get animated for movie
| Entertainment
|
Metallica, Pearl Jam get their games on
| Entertainment
|
Arena Football League tackled by recession
| Entertainment
|
Singapore's Keppel to scrap 140 mln euro contract
Philippine rescuers search for 26 ferry passengers
Mumbai's attacked hotels to reopen this weekend
Peace process with Pakistan put on 'pause': Indian minister