'I did my own investigation': Author discusses Bernie Madoff book at Chamber breakfast

One of the few media sources to communicate with Bernie Madoff while he was in prison, Jim Campbell chronicles how the disgraced financier orchestrated the largest Ponzi scheme in history in a book released earlier this year.

Campbell, who conducted numerous interviews with the Madoff family and their associates, Wall Street executives, lawyers, analysts and investigators, discussed the book — his first — during an appearance Monday at the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce's monthly breakfast meeting at The Breakers.

"Madoff Talks: Uncovering the Untold Story Behind the Most Notorious Ponzi Scheme in History," presents an insider account of Madoff's long-running fraud, which landed him in federal prison in 2009.

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Campbell, who hosts the nationally syndicated radio show "Business Talk with Jim Campbell," told guests that the book grew out of 400 pages of handwritten letters and emails he exchanged with Madoff's family and others close to him, and includes new details about the financier's business and family, and how he got away with committing fraud for so long, he said.

Madoff plead guilty in March 2009 to running the Ponzi scheme — estimated at $17 billion — and was sentenced to 150 years in prison. He died in April at age 82.

"I had three objectives with the book," said Campbell. "One was trying to get inside Bernie's mind, which was unfathomable.

"The second thing was to be the first in the media to determine whether the family knew or not. The Justice Department, the bankruptcy trustee and the forensic consultant were all convinced that the family knew about it. I did my own investigation. The third thing is to tell the world the untold story of the regulatory failure, which is complete."

Campbell said his goal with the book was to tell the entire story of Madoff's Ponzi scheme, including why he did it, how he did it, when it started and how forensic investigators uncovered it.

He also offers numerous suggestions to reform the country's regulatory system and Wall Street.

In the book, Campbell discusses the failures of regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and Securities Investor Protection Corporation to uncover the Madoff Ponzi scheme, and how some Madoff victims were victimized again after their losses.

"I definitely have ideas on how to fix the SEC and some of the other bodies there," he said. "As well, I point out what I think are current threats that could explode next."

Campbell said it took him 10 years to gather material for the book and to write it.

Netflix has optioned the book for a documentary, Campbell said. It's expected to air by the end of next year or early 2023.

In the meantime, Campbell continues to promote his book throughout South Florida. He has upcoming appearances scheduled in Vero Beach and Boca Raton.

At every appearance, he said, people come up to him who have either lost money or knew somebody who lost money to Madoff, or knew something about the story.

"People come out of the woodwork, which is really fascinating," he said.

The chamber holds its next membership meeting Jan. 4. The featured presentation is CANNABIS: The Next Big Investment: Another Windfall? Ann Marie Sorrell is the speaker.

Jodie Wagner is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

@JRWagner5

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Most notorious Ponzi scheme in history discussed by author of new Madoff book