The story of Bernie Madoff isn’t a story. It is the case of one man whose actions impacted many many people and their retirements. It is hard to forget the Madoff Ponzi scheme, as his white collar crime case probably is the main reason why millions of people have ever heard of a Ponzi scheme in the first place.
More than a story, the Madoff case has served as an education to outsiders of what financial fraud can look like. But from a criminal defense standpoint, it also serves as a reason why the authorities, including prosecutors, are so aggressive in their pursuit of alleged fraud suspects.
Hollywood certainly will not let people forget about the extreme scheme that cost people billions. A big, star-studded reminder of the U.S.’ biggest white collar crime incident aired on HBO over the weekend. Why does this matter to you?
If you are reading this criminal defense blog, it is likely that you or someone you know is facing criminal allegations. If those allegations are of fraud or other white collar crimes, the Madoff stigma is something that can be harmful to your legal process and personal reputation.
In the U.S. criminal justice system, everyone is to be treated as though they are innocent until proven guilty. The severity of the Madoff case and the publicized nature of the man’s actions immediately works against someone accused of similar offenses. Even if the public doesn’t treat you as such, your white collar crime defense attorney knows you are not Bernie Madoff. You have your own unique set of circumstances and your own right to the best, personalized defense possible.