Authorities seize financier’s property
Güncelleme Tarihi:
TAMARA LUSH
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 03, 2009 00:00
palm beach, Floriada - The Associated Press-Authorities have begun sweeping up some of the leftovers of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's opulent Palm Beach lifestyle - including a mansion and vintage yacht - but it won't go far repaying investors defrauded of billions.
Barry Golden, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service, said about five marshals arrived at the 8,753-square-foot (813-square-meter), five-bedroom mansion late Wednesday afternoon, hours after the boats were seized.
Authorities spent about three hours securing the mansion, changing the locks and conducting an inventory of the property, which Palm Beach County records show had a taxable value of $9.3 million last year.
Golden said marshals filmed and photographed items in the house that might be removed at some point. The mansion was unoccupied when federal authorities arrived, and the inspection took longer than expected because so many locks needed to be changed. They left around 9 p.m. after setting the alarm and posting a "no trespassing" sign on a window.
Palm Beach County property records show the Madoff mansion was purchased in 1994 under his wife Ruth's name for $3.8 million. Golden said the estate would be "monitored and maintained" and is no longer considered Madoff's property.
Earlier in the day, Golden said Madoff's 55-foot (17-meter) yacht named "Bull" and a 24-foot (7-meter) motor boat were taken from marinas on Florida's east coast. The yacht, a well-maintained 1969 Rybovich, is worth $2.2 million.
Madoff, 70, is in jail in New York awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to swindling billions from investors. Prosecutors are seizing as much as they can of Madoff's personal fortune, and have begun demanding millions from his relatives.
Authorities spent about three hours securing the mansion, changing the locks and conducting an inventory of the property, which Palm Beach County records show had a taxable value of $9.3 million last year.
Golden said marshals filmed and photographed items in the house that might be removed at some point. The mansion was unoccupied when federal authorities arrived, and the inspection took longer than expected because so many locks needed to be changed. They left around 9 p.m. after setting the alarm and posting a "no trespassing" sign on a window.
Palm Beach County property records show the Madoff mansion was purchased in 1994 under his wife Ruth's name for $3.8 million. Golden said the estate would be "monitored and maintained" and is no longer considered Madoff's property.
Earlier in the day, Golden said Madoff's 55-foot (17-meter) yacht named "Bull" and a 24-foot (7-meter) motor boat were taken from marinas on Florida's east coast. The yacht, a well-maintained 1969 Rybovich, is worth $2.2 million.
Madoff, 70, is in jail in New York awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to swindling billions from investors. Prosecutors are seizing as much as they can of Madoff's personal fortune, and have begun demanding millions from his relatives.