Meet Harry Markopolos, one of our Sept. 12th honorees

This fraud Investigator who uncovered the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, was born and raised in Erie. He graduated from Cathedral Preparatory School and built a career as a financial analyst and fraud investigator.  

His parents, Louis and Georgia Markopolos, owned multiple restaurants including The New York Lunch. Louis passed away in 2018. Georgia passed away recently, just shy of her 97th birthday. 

In 2000, while working as an investment professional, Harry was asked to analyze Bernie Madoff’s investment operation. What he discovered didn’t add up. He became convinced that Madoff was operating a massive Ponzi scheme and spent years providing evidence to the Securities and Exchange Commission, warning regulators about what was happening.

Harry’s persistence ultimately proved prophetic. In 2008, Madoff’s $65 billion fraud was exposed, making it the largest Ponzi scheme in history.

Harry has since become a nationally recognized expert on financial fraud, speaking and writing about the need to identify and stop financial wrongdoing. His best-selling book, No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller chronicles his efforts to expose Madoff and the frustrating years he spent trying to get regulators to act.

From Erie to Wall Street and beyond, welcome home, Harry.