Rothstein makes allegations about cops, prostitutes

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A convicted South Florida Ponzi schemer has issued some shocking allegations.

On Wednesday, the federal government made public 950 pages of transcripts taken from Scott Rothstein's testimony to lawyers investigating his Ponzi scheme.

The boats, cars, artwork and rooms and rooms of opulent riches were auctioned off years after authorities busted Rothstein. "Frank would tell me, scold me over the telephone and in person that I was spending too much of the money ... He told me I spent money like I hated it ... I was literally out of control."

That quote from the convicted Ponzi schemer is just one of his admissions to lawyers during a 10-day deposition on Florida's biggest scam ever.

Attorneys are attempting to recover money for victims of Rothstein's $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, for which he was busted in December of 2009. William Schere represents some of the victims. Earlier this month, he said, "As he said, very convincingly, 'I don't want to die in prison, and the only way I can't not die in prison is by telling the truth.'"

The 49-year-old disgraced and disbarred lawyer is now in the witness protection program. In his testimony, he made statements about his concerns about employees using and selling marijuana in the offices at Rothstein Rosenfeldt and Adler because he was afraid it would draw the attention of police.

Rothstein also talked about how he frowned upon drug use but had no issues with prostitutes hanging around his office since he felt protected on that front. According to the billion-dollar convicted Ponzi schemer, officers from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and Broward Sheriff's Office deputies were having sexual relations with high-priced escorts that he hired.

In addition, Rothstein admitted that he met with mobsters and took tons of money from them.

Again, keep in mind, all of these are allegations from a now-convicted felon. How legitimate they are remains to be determined. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has already said they have looked into this Ponzi scheme, and they have not found any wrongdoing on the part of their officers.

The department released a statement reading in part: "Internal Affairs conducted an administrative investigation, inclusive of all the information available to the Department at the time, to determine if any employees violated Department policy. Numerous employees were found to have violated policy and appropriate corrective action was taken. That investigation was then submitted to the Broward State Attorney's Office for their independent review. Their review resulted in no criminal charges being levied against any employee of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department."

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