What Do Bernie Madoff, the Loch Ness Monster, and Alex Rodriguez Have In Common?

They are in the 2009 edition of Topps’ Allen & Ginter series of Trading Cards. The set will consist of 350 cards: 230 baseball players, 30 rookies, 25 historic figures and 15 world champions. It also will include 50 short-printed cards. Among the unusual inclusions to the basic set are Old Faithful (the Yellowstone geyser), … Read more »

SEC Settlements in Ponzi Scheme Cases: Putting Madoff and Stanford in Context

In the last six and half years the Securities and Exchange Commission has reached settlements with over 300 defendants in cases related to alleged Ponzi schemes. NERA Consulting has been tracking these SEC settlements since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was enacted in July 2002. In that time frame there have been 12 Ponzi scheme settlements that … Read more »

Madoff and Markopolos on 60 Minutes

On Sunday night, 60 Minutes aired an interview with Harry Markopolos: The Man Who Figured Out Madoff’s Scheme. Last month, Markopolos supplied similar information to a Congressional panel. By its vary nature, the SEC does not stop a financial crime until happens. As with all prosecutions, the bad act needs to happen before there is … Read more »

Madoff in Limerick Form

Freakonomics ran a contest for the best definition for Bernie Madoff in limerick form. They had special guest judge Chris J. Strolin, founder and editor-in-chief of The Omnificent English Dictionary In Limerick Form announce The Winning Definition of “Madoff,” in Limerick Form. The best of the best was #98 by sqlman: His investments’ ascent: like … Read more »

U.S. Senate Hears About Madoff

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a hearing on the background and implications of the Madoff scandal: Madoff Investment Securities Fraud: Regulatory and Oversight Concerns and the Need for Reform. Video Archive Member Statements Senator Christopher J. Dodd Witness Testimony Professor John C. Coffee, Adolf A. Berle Professor … Read more »