Court won’t hear appeal on recovery of billions for Madoff victims
Decision leaves trustee unable to seize money from some of those who profited from massive Ponzi scheme
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal from the trustee trying to recover nearly $4 billion for victims of Bernard Madoff’s massive Ponzi scheme.
The justices on Monday let stand a lower court decision that blocked trustee Irving Picard from recovering and distributing nearly $2 billion and raised questions about an additional $2 billion in potential recoveries and distributions.
A federal appeals court ruled last year that some Madoff customers who received more in payouts from Madoff than their original investment were protected under bankruptcy laws.
Picard said the ruling guts his authority to recover money from those who profited from illegal schemes and redistribute money to those who did not.
Madoff victims lost about $17.5 billion of principal in the scheme.
Madoff, 76, is serving a 150-year sentence in federal prison for a scheme believed to be the largest of its kind in US history. He pleaded guilty in March 2009.
The scheme affected a disproportionate number of Jewish individuals and organizations.
JTA contributed to this report.