Miami’s Own Mini-Madoff

The Fall Of A Law Firm

Scott Rothstein

Scott Rothstein, the politically connected Miami attorney, who fled to Morocco, due to investors pressing him regarding their money, has returned to South Florida and was met by FBI agents at the airport.

Preliminary evidence indicates Mr. Rothstein has been running a $500,000,000 ponzi scheme out of the Sunshine State, leaving his law firm in the lurch.

The firm is down to its last $500,000 and may face difficulties making payroll, with a staff of 75 people.

Politically connected lawyer returns to face fraud questions

In Print: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - A flashy Fort Lauderdale lawyer who investors say fleeced them for hundreds of millions of dollars flew back from Morocco on Tuesday to face federal prosecutors considering criminal charges, the Miami Herald reported.

While Scott Rothstein and his defense attorney, Marc Nurik, held the discussions, a Broward County judge appointed an independent receiver to examine the financial records of Rothstein's law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.

Rothstein, 47, had left for Morocco on Friday as news of his alleged investment scam started leaking around Broward County. He came back facing an FBI investigation and the loss of his law firm. The once high-flying firm, formed in 2002, has only $500,000 left in its bank account, a lawyer said.

Rothstein, suspected of running a Ponzi scheme, apparently drained vast sums of money from the firm, his partners say.

Rothstein's investors had $500 million deposited in a Canadian bank on Oct. 23 and that money was gone seven days later, said William Scherer, an attorney representing investors who he says lost more than $70 million...

http://www.tampabay.com

Judge Closes Court To Kill Inmate

Judge Sharon Keller

A sadistic, cruel, evil, vile judge, Sharon Keller also know as "Sharon Killer" deliberately closed the court, because she knew lawyers for a man on death row, with hours to live, were trying to file a last minute appeal, to save his life.

There were computer glitches barring the the appeal and when they rushed to the court to file, she instructed the courthouse be closed. Michael Richard was executed 3 hours later, when there were judges present in the court that could have received the appeal.

Michael Richard

Sharon Keller is now facing a civil trial that aims to revoke her judgeship. Plainly put, Keller should be facing fraud and negligent homicide charges, for depriving Michael Richard of his constitutional rights, in deeds that cost him his life. She tried to play god with this man's life and should answer for her actions in a court of law.

Furthermore, there have been a significant number of cases, where DNA evidence later acquitted the wrongfully accused. She had no business depriving him of the opportunity to do so, which is a legal right. Her conduct was thoroughly egregious.

Hasty judges quick to close out cases are always the worst and by far the most incompetent. Judges who quickly toss cases commit criminal fraud. A smart, astute, fair-minded judge, is willing to pore over a case and ascertain the true facts.

US judge 'ignored death row plea'

Richards was executed hours after Judge Keller allegedly closed the court. A judge in Texas has gone on trial accused of refusing to let lawyers for a convicted murderer on death row to lodge a last-minute appeal.

Sharon Keller is charged with professional misconduct. The prisoner, Michael Wayne Richard, was put to death hours after she allegedly shut the court, despite being told an appeal was imminent.

Half of all executions in the US last year were in Texas and Judge Keller has earned the nickname Sharon Killer.

She is known for her tough stance on the death penalty...Their efforts were delayed by computer glitches and when they phoned the court to request extra time, they say they were told court closes at 5pm.

Richard was put to death some three hours later. Now his lawyers claim Judge Keller deliberately ordered the courthouse to close at 5pm, knowing a last-minute appeal was imminent...

State prosecutors have charged Judge Keller with five counts of professional misconduct. They say her actions cast "public discredit" on the judiciary...

http://news.bbc.co.uk