Bernard Madoff's former controller says she's 'truly sorry,' avoids prison after cooperating

Published May 03, 2016

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.

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.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/bernard-madoffs-former-controller-says-shes-truly-sorry-avoids-prison-after-cooperating