Disbarred Lawyer Scott Rothstein's Wife Charged with Trying to Keep Feds From Seizing $1M in Jewelry
Kimberly Wendell Rothstein had nothing to do with the $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme orchestrated by her husband, disbarred Florida attorney Scott Rothstein, her lawyer says.
But the 38-year-old does take “full responsibility,” states attorney David K. Tucker, for her actions related to the federal obstruction conspiracy case announced last week against Kim Rothstein and four other individuals, reports Bloomberg.
“My guess is that this will resolve itself in a guilty plea,” he tells the news agency.
Rothstein and her claimed co-conspirators are accused of lying to Internal Revenue Service agents trying to confiscate $1 million in jewelry, along with other assets of her husband, in order to repay investors he fleeced. She then allegedly tried to sell some of the jewelry. In addition to conspiracy to obstruct justice, Rothstein also faces conspiracy to commit money laundering and witness-tampering conspiracy charges.
“Kim welcomes the opportunity to put a very challenging time in her life behind her,” said a statement released on her behalf, reports the Associated Press. “Kim is a vibrant, diverse and deeply caring person who looks forward to being a productive citizen in the years to come.”
Attorney Scott Saidel, 45, also is charged in the case, with a single count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Saidel is accused, along with a friend of Kim Rothstein’s, of helping her stash some jewelry and planning to sell it and urge Scott Rothstein to lie about it in an then-upcoming deposition that wound up being canceled.
The article doesn’t include any comment from Saidel or his counsel.
Scott Rothstein is serving a 50-year federal prison term and his former law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, went bankrupt.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Imprisoned Ex-Attorney Scott Rothstein: Other Lawyers Had Some Knowledge of State’s Biggest Swindle”
ABAJournal.com: “Federal Judge Sanctions Law Firm and Client re Withheld Docs, Finds TD Bank Knew of Rothstein Fraud”
ABAJournal.com: “3rd Lawyer from Shuttered Rothstein Law Firm Is Disbarred After Criminal Conviction”
