Ruth Madoff, the 67-year-old wife of alleged fraud mastermind Bernard Madoff, is being investigated by U.S. regulators over whether she helped maintain secret records used in a $50 billion Ponzi scheme, a person familiar with the matter said. The Securities and Exchange Commission, combing through files at her husband’s New York firm, found evidence she may have helped track payments, the person said, declining to be identified because the inquiry isn’t public. Two people with knowledge of the probe said on Dec. 14 that the agency is also examining why her name appears on related transactions. ‘She’s not charged with anything, said Ira ‘Ike Sorkin, a New York attorney at Dickstein Shapiro LLP, which represents the couple. ‘The SEC has not sought to freeze her assets. She’s under no bail conditions. Authorities haven’t accused Ruth Madoff of wrongdoing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein, who is overseeing criminal proceedings against her husband, today ordered the couple to surrender their passports. Bernard Madoff’s wife and brother, Peter, were the only people willing to sign a $10 million bond to secure his release. Ruth Madoff is seeking to hire her own lawyer, a person familiar with the matter said. […]