“Madoff” Name Brings Death Threats; Daughter-in-Law Seeks Change

The Bernard Madoff affair is the scandal that keeps on giving.  In the latest twist, Madoff’s daughter-in-law, Stephanie, is seeking legal approval to change her surname to Morgan to protect herself and her two young children against death threats, embarrassment and humiliation.

In legal filings made in Manhattan, Stephanie Madoff says that her father-in-law, who is serving a 150-year jail term for being the brains behind a $65 billion Ponzi scheme, was “recently featured prominently in the news for defrauding numerous investors in his companies.”  She mentioned “certain death and other threats made against the Madoff family.  Though the threats were deemed unfounded, your petitioner fears for her safety and the safety of her children.”

Stephanie Madoff is married to Mark Madoff, who held a senior position in Madoff Investment Securities’ trading division and denies all knowledge of the fraud.  The younger Madoff intends to retain the family name, but has no objection to his wife’s decision.

A federal auction of Madoff’s personal belongs in November raised $1 million, which was used as restitution to pay back some of the Wall Street financier’s victims.  The items included clothing, dog bowls, golf shoes and even boogie boards.