“I wanted to experience disgust at these people who blatantly took other people’s money,’’ said Reenie Harris, who viewed items to be auctioned from the estate of a Bernard Madoff aide.
(Mel Evans/Associated Press)
Up for bid: Items tied to Madoff mischief
“I wanted to experience disgust at these people who blatantly took other people’s money,’’ said Reenie Harris, who viewed items to be auctioned from the estate of a Bernard Madoff aide.
(Mel Evans/Associated Press)
MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. — Some came in search of bargains, simple curiosity drew others. Then there was Reenie Harris.
“It’s a combination of things, but there’s a certain amount of outrage,’’ Harris said as she browsed through the former belongings of a Bernard Madoff associate, belongings that ranged from an ornate table with a built-in chess board to a snow blower and a couple of all-terrain vehicles.
The items, shown for a public viewing yesterday before they are auctioned, belonged to Frank DiPascali, former chief financial officer for Madoff.
“I wanted to experience disgust at these people who blatantly took other people’s money,’’ Harris added as an explanation of her presence in the drab garage where the items were displayed. “This kind of screams out how appalling the whole thing is.’’
Proceeds will go to a fund to compensate Madoff’s victims, said the US Marshals Service.
DiPascali, who was released on bail this week, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in August to money laundering, securities fraud, and other crimes that could put him in prison for decades.
As part of his $10 million bail package, DiPascali must remain under house arrest and forfeit all family assets, except for an agreed-upon dollar amount less than $300,000.
It is not clear whether the possessions to be auctioned today will equal that amount.
Many appeared to be recreational in nature rather than high-ticket goods.
© Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.
