Madoff's secretary has upmarket mansions, fancy cars

New York, Mar 25 (ANI): A long time aide of Ponzi king Bernie Madoff went from a middle-class up bringing on Howard Beach to high society Boca Raton while signing up friends and families for her boss's.

She's acquired a 2.6 million dollar mansion in a gated community in Manhasset, L.I., and three fancy cars, including a 100,000 dollars Mercedes.

Annette Bongiorno, 60, had no comment this week when a TV crew showed up at her 1.25 million dollar Florida country-club mansion to ask questions about her role in Madoff's firm, the Daily News reports.

She apparently had no problem talking about Madoff's investment prowess before his 65 billion dollar swindle was exposed last year.

Clients recruited by Bongiorno and her electrician husband Rudy had their money put in accounts that were code-named RuAnn in company files, a former employee said.

It appears she mined her old Queens neighborhood for investors.

Two of Bongiorno's assistants told prosecutors that Bongiorno instructed them to create the tickets - even though the government believes no trading was done, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Bongiorno has not been charged in the scam. It is unclear whether prosecutors are trying to build a case against her or if she is cooperating with the investigation. (ANI)