United States v. Madoff

MEMORANDUM DECISION

CHIN, Circuit Judge.

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In April 2006, petitioners Robert A. Baird and Randy Morrison Baird, clients of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities (“BLMIS”), gave defendant Bernard Madoff a sculpture made from three African masks (the “Sculpture”). They did so to thank Madoff for taking “such good care” of their family’s investment. Three years later, Madoff pled guilty to defrauding BLMIS clients of billions of dollars.

In this case, the Bairds seek the return of the Sculpture, which was forfeited to the government after Madoff s plea. On February 7, 2011, the Bairds…