Bernie Madoff, who swindled billions from investors, dies in prison, report

Bernard Madoff, mastermind of the biggest investment fraud in U.S. history, has died, according to a news report Wednesday. He was 82.

His death is being reported by the Associated Press, citing unidentified sources.

Madoff ripping off tens of thousands of clients of as much as $65 billion in a so-called Ponzi scheme, purportedly died of natural causes.

He was serving a 150-year sentence at the federal prison care center in Butner, N.C., the wire service also reports.

He pleaded guilty in 2009 to the scheme.