Madoff accomplice free on bail

Frank DiPascali Jr., who pleaded guilty to helping Bernard L. Madoff carry out history's biggest Ponzi scheme, was released on bail. DiPascali, 53, had been in federal custody since pleading guilty last summer. He has cooperated with prosecutors in a bid for leniency when he is sentenced. The former chief financial officer for Madoff's company left the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan with his lawyer, Marc Mukasey. Both declined to comment. Among conditions set by U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan in February were posting $10 million in cash or property, including $600,000 in equity in three New Jersey homes; 24-hour house arrest except under escort; and wearing an electronic monitoring device. DiPascali pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including conspiracy, fraud and money laundering. He admitted misleading thousands of clients at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, saying no securities trades took place in their accounts. Investors lost billions of dollars. Madoff, 72, pleaded guilty on March 12, 2009, and is serving a 150-year prison term.