Ten or more face possible Madoff charges: source

By Grant McCool

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. investigators say 10 or more people associated with imprisoned swindler Bernard Madoff could face criminal charges in the coming months, a law enforcement source said on Tuesday.

The source, who asked not be identified because of the continuing investigation into the multibillion-dollar Madoff fraud, said the FBI was "closer to the beginning than the end" of the probe.

Disgraced financier Madoff, 71, was handed a 150-year prison sentence Monday. He was arrested in December and pleaded guilty in March to orchestrating Wall Street's biggest investment fraud of as much as $65 billion.

He has not named accomplices in his classic "cash in, cash out" Ponzi scheme. The only other person charged criminally so far is his outside accountant, David Friehling.

"There will probably be more people charged," the law enforcement source said. "It is likely to be 10 or more, but it is going to be a lengthy process that could take months or more."

Madoff was prosecuted by the Office of the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, which declined comment on its continuing investigation.

In pre-sentencing court papers, prosecutors said Madoff organized and led the fraud and had numerous clerical employees working in the business.

"It would not have been possible to execute his scheme without their assistance," prosecutors said.