Washington - Two former computer programmers who allegedly helped jailed financier Bernard Madoff orchestrate a massive 65- billion-dollar fraud were arrested Friday and charged with conspiracy. Jerome O'Hara, 46, and George Perez, 43, allegedly created and ran programmes that falsified records and accounting for Madoff's firm, Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities LLC. Those records were submitted for review to US regulators.
Madoff was sentenced earlier this year to 150 years in prison for running a pyramid "Ponzi" scheme that defrauded investors of 65 billion dollars.
US Attorney Preet Bharara said O'Hara and Perez designed computer programmes that "served to deceive investors and regulators and concealed Madoff's crimes. Today they have been charged for their roles in Madoff's epic fraud."
The two could face up to 30 years in prison. They face a range of charges in a New York court including conspiracy and falsifying books and records of a broker-dealer.
