Hollywood A-listers took center stage in Manhattan federal court Tuesday as jury selection got under way in the trial of five former Bernie Madoff staffers for their role in his $ 65 billion Ponzi scheme.
And while none of them were in the courtroom, the names of Steven Spielberg, John Malkovich, Zsa Zsa Gabor and even LA Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax were rattled off to potential jurors, who were questioned about their familiarity with some of the most famous victims of Madoff’s epic scheme — a list that also included Mets owner Fred Wilpon and husband-and-wife actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick.
Some potential jurors claimed they never heard of any of them — not even the Madoffs.
Among the biggest celebrity losers was Gabor, who is estimated to have lost $ 10 million investing with Madoff, while Malkovich has claimed loses of $ 2.2 million and being “completely ruined” by the scheme.
The five defendants on trial are Madoff ex-secretary Annette Bongiorno, former office worker Joann Crupi, former operations officer Daniel Bonventre, and former computer programmers George Perez and Jerome O’Hara.
About 200 juror candidates filled a ceremonial courtroom to potentially be picked as one of 12 jurors for the anticipated five-month trial.
During the opening round, 45 were selected.
Among the prospective jurors was a men’s locker-room manager for Old Oaks Country Club in Westchester, who told the judge he personally knows through the club at least 30 victims of the scheme and Madoff’s longtime trusted accountant Paul Konigsberg. He claimed that Konigsberg has been at the club playing golf at least three times since being busted by the feds Sept. 26 for allegedly helping recruit new investors for the scheme.
“A lot of guys were affected who I know, so I already formed some opinions. The defense would have to be very good” to sway him in its favor, the man warned.
Yahoo Local News – New York Post
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