Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Madoff auditor pleads guilty to securities fraud and other charges
NEW YORK - Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's longtime auditor has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and other charges.
David Friehling entered the plea Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan.
Prosecutors said previously that the charges could be punishable by up to 108 years in prison. However, substantial co-operation can result in leniency.
The government says Friehling would have known that Madoff was carrying out history's biggest Ponzi scheme - because he kept the books.
But he told the judge: "At no time was I ever aware Bernard Madoff was engaged in a Ponzi scheme."
