Less sophisticated but almost as costly to retailers is return fraud, the practice of stealing merchandise and returning it to the store for a full refund.

FORBES: Holiday Thieving Season

Half of Alexander's practice is devoted to oil and gas securities fraud cases.

FORBES: Energy

McGladrey is the next tier public accounting firm with the alternative practice structure and exposure to Madoff and Petters fraud litigation as well as responsibility for the Sentinel fraud.

FORBES: SEC Stacks The Deck Against Investors At PCAOB

Ratner, who was convicted of insurance fraud and stripped of his license to practice medicine for three years in 2002, is on the witness list for the trial and has been questioned in a deposition by each side.

CNN: AEG exec: I didn't know Michael Jackson abused drugs

Schiller, who later pled guilty to Medicare fraud, said he had earned the stolen money honestly through an accounting practice and other investments and businesses.

NPR: Survivors Angry Over 'Pain & Gain' Depiction

" A Schwab spokeswoman noted, "Our practice is to evalutate incidents on a case-by-case basis and where there is verified fraud, to make the customers whole.

FORBES: Magazine Article