Bernard Madoff's neighbors are praying the Post is right: The paper reports, "Top New York real-estate brokers have been asked to visit Madoff's tony penthouse at 133 E. 64th St., between Lexington and Park avenues, to assess its value, with an eye toward unloading it, one of the agents said yesterday." Apparently lawyers for the trustee overseeing the liquidation of the $50 billion Ponzi scheme mastermind's estate called up brokers.
Just yesterday, the Post said Madoff was annoyed with his house arrest, being stuck in a penthouse and all, but now he might have some entertainment: "Because he must remain inside the two-story apartment as a condition of his $10 million bail, Madoff will be in awkward proximity to brokers when they eyeball its four bedrooms, at least five bathrooms, kitchen and library." A broker suspects, "They'll probably have him in the dining room when we're in the bedrooms and vice versa."
In other news, the Bank of New York and JPMorgan Chase have found $500 million in accounts belonging to Madoff. Newsday explains, "Court records show Mellon is holding $301,407,190 in one Madoff company account while JPMorgan Chase holds $233,500,000 in three accounts." The banks will turn the money over to trustee Irving Picard. A lawyer represented some of the investors duped by Madoff said, "It is a positive sign that money is being flowed over."
