The Securities and Exchange Commission charged four people connected with New York trader Bernard Madoff with allegedly assisting in his massive fraud scheme. The SEC charged Cohmad Securities Corp.

Defense lawyers for accused trader Bernard Madoff said assets belonging to the New York trader's wife are not related to Madoff's alleged fraud.

Dozens of Massachusetts charities have been hurt by scandal, including major BIDMC donors BOSTON, Feb.

Ruth Madoff, wife of Bernard Madoff, withdrew $15.5 million from a firm co-owned by her husband just before his arrest, Massachusetts' state secretary said. The complaint filed by Secretary William Galvin's office said Ruth Madoff withdrew $5.5 million on Nov. 25 and $10 million on Dec.