Judge Yanks Bail for Madoff Secretary

Bernard Madoff's personal secretary is going to be spending Christmas behind bars. Annette Bongiorno surrendered to authorities in Florida yesterday after a federal judge canceled her house arrest and revoked her $5 million bail, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The judge decided there was a "very real potential" that Bongiorno, who prosecutors say made $14 million from Madoff's Ponzi scheme, would use her access to millions of dollars to flee before trial.

"The evidence against the defendant is extremely strong," the judge noted. Bongiorno, who worked for Madoff for 40 years and is charged with helping him both perpetuate and cover up his scam, was arrested along with another aide last month. The 62-year-old will be transferred to a prison in New York and faces up 75 years in jail if convicted on all charges. (More Annette Bongiorno stories.)