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Madoff friend found dead in pool | Madoff friend found dead in pool |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A close friend of jailed US fraudster Bernard Madoff has been found dead at the bottom of his own swimming pool in the US state of Florida. | A close friend of jailed US fraudster Bernard Madoff has been found dead at the bottom of his own swimming pool in the US state of Florida. |
Police say they are treating the death of 67-year-old Jeffry Picower as a possible case of drowning. | Police say they are treating the death of 67-year-old Jeffry Picower as a possible case of drowning. |
Mr Picower's body was pulled from the pool of his $33m (£29m) Palm Beach home by his wife and a housekeeper. | Mr Picower's body was pulled from the pool of his $33m (£29m) Palm Beach home by his wife and a housekeeper. |
Mr Picower, who made a name for himself as a philanthropist, is reported to have been in poor health. | Mr Picower, who made a name for himself as a philanthropist, is reported to have been in poor health. |
A family spokesman told The Wall Street journal that he had been suffering from Parkinson's disease. | A family spokesman told The Wall Street journal that he had been suffering from Parkinson's disease. |
A Palm Beach paramedic describes the scene when he arrived | |
Local television reported that a fire chief was told by Mr Picower's wife that he had gone for a swim and was found lying at the bottom of the pool 15 minutes later. | Local television reported that a fire chief was told by Mr Picower's wife that he had gone for a swim and was found lying at the bottom of the pool 15 minutes later. |
His close friendship with Madoff had placed him in the media spotlight. | His close friendship with Madoff had placed him in the media spotlight. |
Lawyers acting on behalf of the victims of Madoff's fraudulent investment scheme recently accused Mr Picower of receiving at least $7bn from it. | Lawyers acting on behalf of the victims of Madoff's fraudulent investment scheme recently accused Mr Picower of receiving at least $7bn from it. |
But Mr Picower's legal team said their client was a victim, not a beneficiary, of the Madoff scam. | But Mr Picower's legal team said their client was a victim, not a beneficiary, of the Madoff scam. |
Madoff is currently serving a 150-year sentence after pleading guilty to running a $65bn Ponzi scheme. | Madoff is currently serving a 150-year sentence after pleading guilty to running a $65bn Ponzi scheme. |