A plea proceeding is scheduled Thursday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan for Bernard L. Madoff to plead guilty to defrauding thousands of investors out of billions of dollars in what is widely believed to be the biggest investment fraud in history. Madoff's attorneys confirmed that Madoff is waiving his right to a grand jury indictment and that there have been ongoing negotiations regarding a possible settlement. Legal experts say a defendant waiving his right to indictment usually indicates the case is close to resolution.