US rubbishes Maddoff's cancer cry, calls it a ploy

But under the headline "Bernie's Cancer Cell," the New York Post Monday reported that Madoff, who is sentenced to 150 years in prison for defrauding thousands of investors for $65 billion, wrote: "Bernie Madoff had little to lose by confessing to masterminding the world's biggest Ponzi scheme -- he's dying of cancer, sources told The Post."

The story says that 71-year-old Madoff has been telling his fellow inmates that he does not have long to live and is dying.

"He's been taking about 20 pills a day for his cancer," The Post quoted one inmate on conditions of anonymity. "He talks about it all the time. He's not doing very well."

Reports confirmed by Wall Street Journal as well
As the day proceeded, the Wall Street Journal also reported that it had confirmed the New York Post's story.

Shortly after that, Federal Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Traci Billingsley came out with a statement, "While the NY Post story is full of inaccuracies, and we can't specifically address all of them, we can tell you that Bernie Madoff is not terminally ill, and has not been diagnosed with cancer."

The newspaper reported that earlier this year there were speculations of Madoff suffering from pancreatic cancer.

However, his lawyer Ira Sorkin has declined to comment on his client's "physical or emotional condition".

In March, Madoff pleaded guilty to orchestrating world's largest investor fraud that claimed thousands of victims world-wide.

No indications visible to prove Madoff's sickness
His 150 years of imprisonment has fueled speculations regarding talks of his terminal illness to be a ploy for leniency.

When Joseph Cotchett, one of Madoff victims' lawyer, visited the mastermind (of the Ponzi scheme) in prison last month, he did not see any indication of the latter being ill.

"I asked him about his health, and he said he was fine, with the exception of his ankles, which were swelling because of new pair of shoes," said Cotchett. "Anybody faced with life imprisonment will have a little sorrow, but he was spry, bouncing into the room. He made no mention of any physical problems."

"If this were an excuse to get out of prison, his victims would have to be upset with it," he added.

Helen Davis Chaitman, another victim's attorney said, "I read the story and found it hard to believe. I just hope it's not a set-up. Undoubtedly, Mr. Madoff has information that some people would hope would never be revealed."

From sweat lodges to ceremonial pipe and preparing sandwich wraps, Madoff is doing it all
New York Post also revealed that Madoff is engaging with a few unexpected social groups in the prison, including Native Americans. He has made new friends with the "homosexual posse" as well, according to the report.

Larry Levine, founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants and former prison inmate, said that he would not be surprised if Madoff made friends with the Native American inmates.

A shirtless Madoff has joined a weekly "Native American religious purification ceremonies" which involves prayer in "sweat lodges", rooms having heated rocks that induce sweat, and smoking from a ceremonial pipe, the paper wrote.

The Newspaper also reported: few "gangs" at the prison are trying to recruit Madoff to prepare "sandwich wraps" at their cells.

Background on Bernard
Bernard L. Madoff is a former financer and convicted felon. Madoff, who once served as a non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange, pled guilty to an 11-count criminal complaint, admitting to swindling investors out of as much as $65 billion.

He was convicted of operating a Ponzi scheme that has been called the largest investor fraud ever committed by a single person. On June 29, 2009, he was sentenced to 150 years in prison, the maximum allowed.