NEW YORK - By all accounts, Bernard Madoff isn't talking. And his wife, his sons, his brother and other key employees have lawyered up. That means it could be a while before anyone else is arrested and the full extent of Madoff' vast swindle comes to light. Given the size of the paper trail - a $65 billion scam, 5,000 victims and monthly statements going back nearly two decades - experts say it could be six months to a year before charges are bought against any accomplices.

The day after Madoff was thrown behind bars, investigators returned Friday to the arduous task of piecing together one of the largest frauds in history - and trying to determine if anyone else was involved.

The FBI has refused to discuss the status of the investigation. But experts say it's certain Madoff's closest relatives and associates are high on authorities' list of people who may have known what was going on.

Madoff pleaded guilty Thursday to 11 charges, including fraud, perjury and money laundering. He faces a maximum sentence of 150 years in prison, and the judge immediately jailed him - a decision his lawyers asked an appeals court to reverse on Friday.

One has to wonder, if this guy were black, latino and/or poor... Would he have been able to spend all that time in a luxury apartment paid for by his victims money.... Would his wife still be able to live there? Justice for this guy would be to send him and his whole freakin' family to an Alabama chain gang, sell all their assets and return the poor victims money, and have him and his "frau," and his kids work the rest of their lives to pay back these people...

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