Madoff family members agree to freeze

Documents filed Friday in U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan indicated the family members have agreed to freeze their assets until a suit against them filed by Irving Picard, the court-appointed trustee who is trying to recover money for the victims of Madoff's Ponzi scheme, is being considered, The New York Times reported.

The Times said Picard contends the family members -- including Madoff's sons, Mark and Andrew; his brother, Peter; and his niece, Shana -- received about $141 million before Madoff's arrest, but the family members denied any culpability in the fraud.

Also Friday, documents indicate Madoff's Manhattan penthouse has been sold, although the buyer is unknown. The Times said the 4,000-square-foot duplex was originally listed for $9.9 million and the price had been cut to $8.9 million.

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