Bernard Madoff, whose name became synonymous with financial fraud, died while serving a 150-year sentence in Federal prison. He was 82. His death on April 14 at the Federal Medical Center in the prison in Butner, NC, was confirmed by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

In February 2020, Madoff petitioned the courts for an early release from prison, stating that he had terminal kidney failure and a life expectancy of less than 18 months. But the U.S. Attorney’s office for the southern district of New York said Madoff’s crime was “unprecedented in scope and magnitude” and is “sufficient reason” to deny Madoff’s request. Madoff was the mastermind behind a $20 billion Ponzi scheme — the largest financial fraud in history.

Irving Picard, the court-appointed trustee charged with recovering assets stolen by Madoff from his investors, had recovered $14.4 billion as of March of this year, distributing most of it to Madoff’s victims.