The brother of imprisoned financier Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 10 years in prison for crimes committed in the shadow of his notorious sibling by a judge who said she disbelieved his claims that he did not know about the epic fraud.

The wife of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff says the couple tried to kill themselves after he admitted stealing billions of dollars in the largest Ponzi scheme in history.

HISTORIC swindler Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison yesterday for a fraud so extensive that the judge said he needed to send a symbolic message to potential imitators and to victims who demanded harsh punishment.

Disgraced US financier Bernard Madoff, who faces sentence on Monday for massive fraud, must forfeit $170bn (€121bn), a judge ordered.

Bernard Madoff has agreed to give up the rights to his disgraced investment business and his company's prized artwork and entertainment tickets.