Kim Rothstein Charged With Money Laundering, Obstruction Of Justice
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The wife of convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein has been arrested and charged for their role in an alleged plot to conceal and dispose of assets in connection to the case.
According to the Justice Department, charges were filed against Kim Rothstein, 38, Stacie Weisman, 49, Scott F. Saidel, 45, Eddy Marin, 50, and Patrick Daoud, 54. The charges against Marin and Daoud were on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury.
Kim Rothstein, Weisman, and Saidel were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, obstruction of justice, and tampering with a witness.
Federal authorities said that on November 9, 2009, agents went to the Rothstein residence where Kim helped them retrieve what was believed to be all of the available cash, jewelry, and luxury watches which had been purchased with proceeds from Scott's Ponzi scheme.
The Justice Department said that before and after the seizure Kim Rothstein, Weisman, and Saidel "knowingly took action conceal certain iems of jewelry valued in excess of one million dollars for the purpose of preventing the government from exercising its authority to take such property into its lawful custody and control."
Federal agents said Kim and Weisman then sold and attempted to sell a portion of the jewelry to and through various people including Marin and Daoud.
The Justice Department also said that in civil proceedings instituted by the bankruptcy trustee, "all of the defendants took steps to obstruct justice by concealing the true location of certain items of jewelry in order to prevent its availability for use in those proceedings.
The DOJ said Marin and Daoud committed perjury during depositions in connection with those proceedings and that the Kim, Weisman, and Saidel asked Scott Rothstein to testify falsely in connection with those proceedings.
"The integrity of our system of justice is based on the truthfulness of every witness that participates in the process," said U.S. attorney Wilfredo A. Ferrer. "When a witness lies under oath or conspires to obstruct justice, the integrity of our system of justice is undermined. The charges filed against these five individuals are proof of our Office's commitment to safeguard and protect the integrity of our legal system."
Scott Rothstein is currently serving 50 years in prison for his role in the Ponzi scheme.
UPDATE: Kim Rothstein's attorney, David Tucker, released the following statement.
"Please be advised that Kim welcomes the opportunity to put a very challenging time in her life behind her. Kim would like to take the opportunity to express her disappointment, shame, and sadness in regard to all of the victims of her husband, Scott Rothstein's, actions related to the Ponzi scheme for which he has previously been sentenced. She had no involvement or knowledge of his fraudulent activity. She takes full responsibility for her actions in regard to the charge filed today...This is a very difficult time in her life and we ask that the media be sensitive to her privacy in this matter."
