Bernard Madoff's former controller says she's 'truly sorry,' avoids prison after cooperating
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Imprisoned Wall Street swindler Bernard Madoff's (MAY'-dawfz) former controller won't have to go to prison after prosecutors praised her for helping them successfully convict others in his multibillion-dollar fraud.
Enrica Cotellessa-Pitz was sentenced Tuesday to time served. A judge also ordered her to serve 250 hours of community service.
The judge says she believes Cotellessa-Pitz was genuinely remorseful for knowingly falsifying records that were presented to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cotellessa-Pitz told the judge she's "truly sorry" and "completely ashamed."
The 56-year-old Cotellessa-Pitz joined Madoff's firm in 1978 while in college. She worked there until a few months after his fraud was revealed in December 2008.
Madoff pleaded guilty to fraud charges and is serving a 150-year prison sentence.