Ex-Madoff secretary seeks reduced bail
Rudy Bongiorno (L), husband of Annette Bongiorno, leaves federal court with attorney Nina Mandel (R) after a hearing for his wife Annette November 22, 2010 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Annette Bongiorno, a longtime employee of now-imprisoned Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, was unable to secure release from the court during a bond hearing. REUTERS/Joe Skipper (UNITED STATES - Tags: CRIME LAW BUSINESS) Rudy Bongiorno (L), husband of Annette Bongiorno, leaves federal court with attorney Nina Mandel (R) after a hearing for his wife Annette November 22, 2010 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Annette Bongiorno, a longtime employee of now-imprisoned Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, was unable to secure release from the court during a bond hearing. REUTERS/Joe Skipper (UNITED STATES - Tags: CRIME LAW BUSINESS)
Jailed Ponzi scheme king Bernard Madoff's former secretary has asked to be released on bail, saying the government has seized control of her finances and eliminated any means to flee before a New York trial.
Annette Bongiorno made the request Monday in a filing in federal court in Manhattan. Her lawyers say their 62-year-old client should be freed on bail because electronic monitoring and frozen finances would eliminate any risk of flight.
Bongiorno is on her way to New York after surrendering in Florida last month. She's charged with conspiracy and securities fraud in Madoff's multi-billion dollar fraud.
Madoff is serving a 150-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2009 to fraud charges, admitting cheating thousands of clients over two decades. - Sapa-AP