Bernard Madoff, accused mastermind of a $US50 billion investment fraud, is expected to plead guilty to criminal charges when he appears in court this week.
A court document signed on Friday by prosecutors and Mr Madoff's lead attorney indicated the once-respected Wall Street trader and investment manager would waive an indictment and plead guilty to criminal charges.
Legal experts said all signs indicate that a guilty plea has been negotiated in what authorities have called the biggest Ponzi scheme in Wall Street history.
A Ponzi scheme is one in which early investors are paid with the money of new clients.
The purported swindle ran for decades, but collapsed in last year's market meltdown.
Prosecutors charged and arrested Mr Madoff on 11 December.
