°

Homepage / Miami News
Text Size

Rothstein's Office Guarded, Isolated

Attorney Accused Of Stealing Millions

POSTED: Thursday, November 5, 2009
UPDATED: 4:33 am EST November 6, 2009

Partners in the law firm of an attorney accused of bilking millions of dollars from investors opened the doors to his office Thursday to show how he could have pulled off a scheme without anyone knowing.

The entrance to Scott Rothstein's firm is modern, spacious, and professional. But just past the rooms and cubicles where his fellow attorneys do their business, Rothstein built himself an elaborately secure, extravagant work area.

Video
Photos: Slideshow

The office is where Rothstein is accused of running his multimillion-dollar investment scheme. The corner office on the 16th floor is almost as breathtaking of the view, with expensive furniture, sports memorabilia and pricey art.

Visitors had to be buzzed in. Both entrances are under video and audio surveillance, and the walls are sound proof.

"I think it's very important for people to understand that this was a great group of lawyers and they were literally, figuratively and electronically walled off from whatever Scott Rothstein was doing," said Kendall Coffey, an attorney with Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.

Most striking are the hundreds of photographs showing Rothstein with athletes, movie stars and politicians. In fact, there were more shots of Rothstein with Gov. Charlie Crist than there were of his wife, who was clearly a beneficiary of her husband's obsession with money and power.

Coffey said the other attorneys in the office did not question Rothstein's riches because he was the top dog at the firm and had so many other outside businesses. In fact, a check of state records shows nearly 50 corporations with Rothstein's name attached.

"It's not inconsistent for someone to be a rainmaker and a tycoon, in effect, in their own separate businesses. It happens, and I believe it was a legitimate assumption for the other partners to think this was one of those dynamics," Coffey said.

The views expressed are not those of JustNews.com, WPLG or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum. (Please note the 'Like' and 'Report' tabs.) By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

Sponsored Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Before you splurge on that pricey remodeling project, beware. It may not pay you back when it's time to sell. More

If you're looking to save on your next new vehicle, a low sticker price is just one aspect. Consider all the costs and make the right decision. More

Acupuncture, massage, or other complementary therapies could manage your type-2 diabetes. Find out whether they can help you. More

Most Popular