when the walls come down

Feds allege Rothstein paid police "gratuities'' in Ponzi funds
> Posted by Brittany Wallman at 2:57 PM
Suspected Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein used the local police to further his criminal activity, federal authorities alleged Tuesday in a 34-page document laying out charges against the one-time lawyer.
Among the new allegations in the document: that Rothstein paid top police officials "gratuities'' in Ponzi funds.
Fort Lauderdale police were hired off-duty to guard Rothstein's Fort Lauderdale mansion, his Bova Prime restaurant and the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm that the feds say was actually a Ponzi headquarters. Though city police officers aren't allowed to act as bodyguards, they are allowed to work off-duty guarding businesses. Occasionally someone throws a party and hires police to work a detail. In this case, the police chief allowed them to guard Rothstein's personal residence on a 24-hour permanent basis, the first and only time this has occurred in Fort Lauderdale.
The feds took aim at the arrangement, saying in their "information'' against Rothstein that it was done to divert law enforcement attention from the Ponzi. They also allege Rothstein gave "gratuities'' to top law enforcement officials. The agency is not named, nor are the alleged gratuities listed.
According to the feds: "Defendant Rothstein and other co-conspirators utilized funds illegally obtained through the 'Ponzi' scheme to hire members of local police departments purportedly to provide security for RRA and defendant Rothstein's personal residence. 'Ponzi' scheme funds were also used to provide gratuities to high ranking members of police agencies in order to curry favor with such police personnel and to deflect law enforcement scrutiny of the activities of RRA and defendant Rothstein.''
Rothstein had friends at Fort Lauderdale Police Department and at Broward Sheriff's Office. His relationship with BSO Lt. David Benjamin is under scrunity; Benjamin escorted Rothstein to the plane when he left with up to half a million dollars in cash for Morocco.
BSO spokesman Jim Leljedal said Tuesday an internal investigation of Benjamin and an outside consulting business he has is "active and ongoing'' but he has not been suspended. He has been reassigned from his job over Internal Affairs, though.

:devil: It appears they are coming for you. Ah! but what can you expect from a Department who's "Police ethics" is taught by one of their own at the BCC Police Academy. That ethics teacher being an FLPD Major that got caught in a prostitution sting in a neighboring jursidiction.

Sun Sentinel reports:

Gov. Charlie Crist will get his anti-corruption grand jury, after all.

The state Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the governor’s request to empanel a 12-month grand jury to look into corruption issues – two days after the high court had rejected the plan. After the initial setback, Crist quickly re-filed, expanding on why he thought a grand jury was necessary in response to a wave of corruption cases focused in South Florida.This time, the court unanimously said OK.

Broward Chief Judge Victor Tobin, of the 17th Circuit, will preside over the grand jury. It’s only fitting, since Broward has emerged as a hotbed of political corruption. Arrested in recent months: former County Commissioner, Josephus Eggelletion, School Board member Beverly Gallagher, Broward eye doctor and political fundraiser Alan Mendelsohn and, most recently, lawyer and alleged Ponzi scheme swindler Scott Rothstein.

Thanks for the black eye to everyone who allowed this detail to exist. HOW COULD YOU NOT SEE THIS COMING? Greed got the best of all of you nomatter what your excuses. :devil:

If you could see this coming, why didn't you warn the PD.

Thanks for the black eye to everyone who allowed this detail to exist. HOW COULD YOU NOT SEE THIS COMING? Greed got the best of all of you nomatter what your excuses. :devil:

If you could see this coming, why didn't you warn the PD.

"P.S I have a son who is an officer for 5 years and he is moving towards becoming and F.B.I agent so watch out bad cops he may be looking at your work in the next 3 years."

werid thing with the feds...this posting above which was sent in sept. 09 in another thread seems to have warned us....idk, maybe this guys son works(ed) here at FLPD and that was his way of warning us all, why else would he have posted it in our neck of the woods neway? hhhmmmm....

Chief
Next time smile for the camera. That was too funny

More truth at the Sun

http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/south_f ... scene.html

Coming off a horrific fifteen loss record in 2007, the Dolphins headed into the final game of the 2008 season one win away from capturing their first division title in eight years. All they would need to do would be beat the New York Jets in the Meadowlands. That game – played December 28, 2008 – was something every Dolphin fan wanted to see.

Scott Rothstein, however, wasn't content to watch the game on TV. So the high-flying lawyer hopped aboard a private jet and flew up to New York so he could attend the game and see the Dolphins beat the Jets 24-17. It was typical of Rothstein's lavish lifestyle.

But it was the other passengers allegedly flying "Rothstein Air" that are now raising new questions. According to a knowledgeable source, Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley was Rothstein's guest on the chartered flight and went with him to the game.

Also reportedly on the pricey junket: Broward Sheriff's Lt. David Benjamin – Sherriff Al Lamberti's executive assistant – and Tom Wheeler, another high ranking sheriff's employee.

CBS4 News could not determine if Rothstein personally paid for the plane or if it was paid for by one of his business clients, but it is believed Rothstein was responsible for organizing the trip and inviting Adderley and the others.

Monday evening, Adderley refused to confirm or deny if he was on the flight with Rothstein. "There is an ongoing federal investigation and we will not comment on anything related to Rothstein," said Frank Sousa, the Fort Lauderdale police spokesman.

Neither Benjamin nor Wheeler could be reached for comment. A Broward Sheriff's spokesman declined to discuss on the latest allegations, saying it "does not involve BSO business."

Up until now, it was widely known that Adderley frequently attended Dolphin games inside one of Rothstein's two luxury suites at Landshark Stadium. Adderley has maintained he paid for those tickets.

But the revelation that three of Broward County's most powerful lawmen flew with Rothstein to a football game is further evidence of Rothstein's cozy relationship with both the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Last week and again on Monday, CBS4 News asked Adderley to provide proof that he paid for the items given to him by Rothstein. Adderley refused.

Monday, the FBI also got involved. CBS4 News has learned from a law enforcement source in Broward that Chief Adderley met with federal agents for more than an hour.

Adderley has not been charged with a crime and he is not the target of the investigation. But the feds are reportedly trying to understand the relationship between Fort Lauderdale's top cop and the man now accused of the largest Ponzi scheme in South Florida history.

Of particular interest were the photos released last week showing Adderley and Rothstein at a traffic accident over the summer involving Rothstein's friend -- cigar shop owner Muhammad "Moe'' Sohail

One of the big mysteries is why Chief Adderley showed up.

Adderley has refused to say what caused him to go to the scene of a routine traffic accident, nor would he say who called him.

But CBS4 News has learned that it was Rothstein who called the police chief.

Why did Rothstein want Adderley at the crash site? On Monday, Adderley once again refused to clear up the controversy by refusing to provide answers. CBS4 News asked to review Adderley's cell phone records from the day in question, but Adderley refused to provide them saying they were not a public record.

The August 21 accident occurred just before 4 p.m. in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Danielle Filler, 34, was driving a silver BMW, heading south on NE 3rd Avenue. She was attempting to make a left, when a black Bentley, reportedly driven by Sarah Merricks, 27, crashed into her.

Witnesses said the Bentley was travelling at a high rate of speed when it struck the BMW.

Merricks, the driver of the black Bentley, was Sohail's girlfriend. Sohail, the owner of the Bentley was a passenger in the car. Last year Merricks was arrested for a DUI and was driving on a restricted driver's license which she was only supposed to use driving to and from work.

But on this day, Merricks and Sohail were driving home after eating at Rothstein's Bova Prime restaurant. Merricks was cited for violating the restrictions on her license.

There is no evidence that Adderley interfered in the investigation.

But his presence at the crash site, standing alongside Rothstein, continues to raise doubts about the impartiality of the accident probe. And the simple fact that Rothstein could pick up his phone and summon the police chief is just as troubling.

The bond between Rothstein and Adderley appeared to be developed through both food and football. Adderley has previously told the Sun-Sentinel that he did not socialize with Rothstein and the chief has told city officials that he was "friendly" with Rothstein, but he was not "friends" with the Ponzi schemer.

But the trip to the Jets game last year would seem to dispute the contention Adderley did not socialize with Rothstein.

The trip would appear to violate Fort Lauderdale ethics rules prohibiting officers from accepting "gratuities." The rules state that officers shall not use their position "for personal gain, and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its police department."

As far as Benjamin and Wheeler, the allegation that the two high-ranking Broward Sheriff's officials were also on the flight adds to Rothstein's legendary influence in that department.

Lamberti has already taken steps to distance himself from the two men. It was Benjamin, for instance, who escorted Rothstein to the airport and put him aboard the private jet to Morocco – with between $400,000 and $500,000 in cash – in October when Rothstein's Ponzi schemes were about to become public.

The Broward Sheriff's Department policy on gifts is even more explicit than the one in Fort Lauderdale. "Employees will not accept special treatment, gifts, gratuities, or other benefits," the policy states, "when it is given fully or partially due to their BSO association."

DID ROTHSTEIN PAY FOR ADDERLEY'S TRIPS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY WITH ALL HIS LITTLE BUDDIES FOR HIS "FUN AND RELAXATION"?????

41pw0

Yes indee, the feds are already here and have been investigating. This should get very interesting. Whats that nasty g word.... oh yeah, GREED.

Since when is greed breaking the law? What did they do wrong?

UMM, being greedy isnt against the law, its the things that one does to get to that almighty dollar!! Does that make ANY sense to you Corky??? I didnt think so. What did they do wrong??? Holy Shit, you must be high. Pass on to the next site groupie.

IN ALL MY LIFE I HAVE SEEN MANY INDIVIDUAL BECOME FRIENDS THOUGH A LIFETIME. THESE PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW IF THEY DID ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. SO IF ADDERLEY,WHEELER AND BRENNAN WERE FRIENDS WITH ROTHSTEIN THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM PART OF HIS PONZI SCHEME.

Here's the thing that pizzez me off. All of the heat is being directed off of the two officers by the chief right now. And I'm sure they were not aware of any scheme that may have been going on by Rothstien. But if anyone doesn't think that they have screwed us in the long run you're crazy! They were geting a rediculous amount of money for heading a detail... thousands a week. That just looks bad. Not to mention she was on a hardship working a detail on the days she "couldn't work her shift because of her child". What about the rest of us who have to balance our family life every day?! I'm sure the rest of us patrol would have loved to have better days off too. We're cops people!! We are not going to be millionares! Her driving a Mercedes and him a Landrover. Thousands a week for what a another officer would get a hundred or so for. And make no mistake... this is not jealousy. I can pay my bills on the up and up. I am just tired of the rest of us getting f*cked for other people's screw-ups! So is the greed illegal? No. But when the rest of us are screwed later when they end up wanting to take or manage our legit details, remember who you're defending. David Hebert must have a big smile on his face right now. Thanks guys.