From Prison, Madoff Defends Two Dead Sons

Bernie Madoff is trying to clear the names of his dead sons caught up in his mammoth Ponzi scheme. In emails to NBC, the 76-year-old insists that Andrew and Mark never knew about his illegal dealings. Andrew died of cancer last year at age 48, and Mark committed suicide at age 46 in 2010. "As difficult as it is for me to live with the pain I have inflicted on so many, there is nothing to compare with the degree of pain I endure with the loss of my sons Mark and Andy," Madoff wrote. "I live with the knowledge that they never forgave me for betraying their love and trust."

Madoff wrote that he shielded them from the fraud, and he slammed court-appointed trustee Irving Picard for asserting that they must have known about it, given their fat paychecks. His defense isn't just about preserving their names—Picard is suing the younger Madoffs' estates on behalf of victims. A spokesperson for PIcard quickly dismissed Madoff's claims, reports USA Today. "As the perpetrator of the largest fraud in history, Mr. Madoff's credibility is highly suspect and his assertions bring no substantive value." (More Bernie Madoff stories.)