Bernard Madoff's right-hand man during decades of massive fraud on Wall Street pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy and fraud and promised to cooperate with authorities.

Frank DiPascali, 52, was denied bail and was led away in handcuffs ahead of sentencing, which is not expected until at least next year.

"There was a simple fact that Bernie Madoff knew, that I knew and other people knew," DiPascali declared in pleading guilty before US District Judge Richard Sullivan. "It was all fake. It was all fiction."