A new filing by federal prosecutors today indicates that mega-scammer Bernard Madoff and his wife, Ruth, invested in real estate ventures associated with the owners of the New York Mets.
The Manhattan federal court filing, which says prosecutors want the Madoffs to forfeit those holdings to the government, also says the couple owns a piece of the PJ Clarke’s restaurants in Manhattan.
The filings say Bernard and Ruth have investments in Sterling Equity Partners, several limited Sterling American Property partnerships, and another Sterling corporation.
According to the Sterling American Property Web site, the subsidiary Sterling Equities owns the Mets among other holdings.
Mets owner Fred Wilpon, a founder of the Sterling companies, has been named as a victim of Madoff’s massive Ponzi scheme, as have a number of Sterling entities.
Sterling had no immediate comment.
Prosecutors also are targeting money that the Madoffs loaned their sons – Andrew and Mark. Authorities want the Madoffs to forfeit their claims on $31.5 million in promissory notes for seven loans made between 2004 and 2008. The last of those loans was made to Andrew Madoff on Oct. 6, 2008 for $4.3 million – two months before his dad confessed to the massive Ponzi scheme.
And the feds want various pieces of jewelry owned by Ruth, valued at about $2.6 million, and 35 sets of watches and cufflinks owned by Bernard.
Today’s filing followed one yesterday by prosecutors that demanded more than $100 million in property and other assets held by Ruth and her husband.
Prosecutors last week said they want Bernard Madoff to forfeit $170 billion for his crimes.
Bernard, 70, pleaded guilty last week to operating a $65 billion investor swindle that ripped off thousands of clients. He has been jailed since then, and is awaiting a June 16 sentencing that could result in a 150-year prison term.