RRA Cast of Characters - Is Tony Villegas the Wrong Man? (UPDATED: 11/25/09)
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Have you ever wanted to be a lawyer or FBI investigator? With TV shows like Law & Order, LA Law, Castle and CSI’s being so popular there is probably a little criminal investigation in many of us. But is legal work as easy as it’s made to look in an hour television show?
If you want to see how complicated the matters surrounding Scott Rothstein are take a look at this cast of characters list and alleged roles in the case. Investigators include the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI who will have their hands full putting this case together. Anyone with information should contact the FBI at the linked contacted information below.
Remember when looking at the facts, we don’t know much at this point. The investigation is ongoing meaning the case isn’t yet public. As for the original crime, the murder of Melissa Lewis is being prosecuted and one man’s life hangs in the balance. He may have been just a convenient focus for those involved with covering up the Ponzi scheme. Simply stated Tony Villegas may be innocent. I have to wonder what agency was involved with the investigation of Ms. Lewis’ murder. Can anyone tell me?
CAST OF CHARACTERS
MAIN WITNESSES AND PERSONS OF INTEREST
Melissa Britt Lewis – Former attorney at Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler who was found murdered and in a canal.
Scott Rothstein, attorney at Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler. Focus of the investigation and continued stories.
Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler is a law firm in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where Scott Rothstein worked. 401 E Las Olas Blvd # 1650, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-4252
(954) 522-3456. Also known as RRA. WWW.RRA-Law.com Although the links to the law firm’s website didn’t work on the morning I attempted to acess them, Martindale.com does list the following information.
Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Office
View all offices
Las Olas City Centre, Suite 1650, 401 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
(Broward Co.) Telephone: 954-522-3456 Fax: 954-527-8663
http://www.rra-law.com
And they appear to have an office in Boca Raton, 5355 Town Center Road, Suite 801, Boca Raton, FL 33486.
Irene Stay, said to be Rothstein's financial officer.
Debra Villegas, employee of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, who allegedly handled the books.
Tony Villegas, former husband of Debra Villegas and the man charged with Debra Lewis’ murder.
Unidentified Law Firm Employee #1 - At least four people in the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler firm met with investors or handled money, investors told the Sun Sentinel.
Unidentified Law Firm Employee #2 - At least four people in the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler firm met with investors or handled money, investors told the Sun Sentinel.
Unidentified Law Firm Employee #3 - At least four people in the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler firm met with investors or handled money, investors told the Sun Sentinel.
Unidentified Law Firm Employee #4 - At least four people in the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler firm met with investors or handled money, investors told the Sun Sentinel.
David Boden, general counsel of the law firm, sat in on Rothstein's meetings with investors and represented him in follow-up calls and negotiations.
Finance Company - The investors also identified two people from a finance company in the same building as the law firm. The two people attended meetings and represented themselves as Rothstein's agent and broker, investors said.
Finance Company Employee #1 –
Finance Company Employee #2 -
David Vinikoor – Attorney for David Boden, 48.
Daniel Serber - attorney at Aventura.
Alan Sakowitz - Potential investor, a Miami lawyer, met with Boden and Rothstein.
David Boden - General counsel of the law firm
Stuart Rosenfeldt - Rothstein’s partner.
Paul Lazarus – attorney for Debra Villegas.
Irene Stay – (45) the law firm's chief financial officer
Richard Pearson, 52, president of a company that allegedly has offices in the same building as the law firm, and who it is alleged brokered the settlements for Rothstein.
R.L. Pearson and Associates Inc. – said to be a business involved with Rothstein’s investors.
Nabil Rhazi, an associate in Pearson's company.
Martin Steinberg, an attorney for Pearson.
Frank Spinosa, (48) a regional vice president at TD Bank, handled Rothstein's investment accounts and met with investors.
William Scherer, an attorney representing investors who lost about $98 million
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION
John Gillies - Miami FBI Special Agent in Charge of the case and the head of the FBI in South Florida
Gilbert Garza - IRS Acting Special Agent in Charge
FBI Investor Contact - rothstein.investment@ic.fbi.gov. or call 800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324).
Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti
Lt. David Benjamin, as head of the Broward County Sheriff’s internal affairs department.
Jim Leljedal – Broward County Sheriff's spokesman.
ALLEGED INVESTORS
Ed (88) and Carol Morse -- who were family friends with Rothstein -- sued Boca Raton decorator Jan Jones in 2006 claiming he botched their job.
Ed Morse Automotive Group - The Morse family's auto empire was founded by Ed and his father in 1946. Today the Ed Morse Automotive Group is run by Morse's son, president and CEO Edward J. ``Ted'' Morse, Jr., 59. The company owns 14 dealerships in Florida and Alabama.
Levy family - Among the alleged investors are the Levy family, owners of Renato Watches.
Attorney Bill Salim, who is representing Levy family members, including Ovadia and Rachel, said in court Thursday that they lost about $15 million to $20 million.
Others: “Rothstein bought into the watch company as a minority shareholder last year, said Daniel Mink, CEO of Renato Watches and son-in-law of Rachel Levy.”
Updated Cast of Characters (November 20, 2009)
Alleged Investors from this linked source: No specific list has been released from the FBI or the promoter. Until one has these names are alleged investors and are subject to change, including deletion.
Todd Snyder - Snyder, a Coconut Grove businessman, alleged friend of stock broker and alleged investor Doug Faulkner. His alleged role isn’t entirely clear.
Doug Faulkner - Is a person who may have invested with Rothstein and who Rothstein may have indicated the existence of whistleblower settlements in a case involving the Dole Food Co.
Dole Food Co. – A company some say was asserted to be the employer in the whistleblower cases, a scenario that Dole denies and some allege Rothstein fabricated.
Andrew Barnett - Who allegedly served as Rothstein's director of corporate development and who they allege was actively promoting the investment scheme and recruiting investors.
Banyon Funding of Las Vegas, associated with Fort Lauderdale businessman George Levin.
Doug Von Allmen - A Fort Lauderdale businessmen and venture capitalist.
Ballamor Capital Management - Run by Barry Bekkadam.
Bonnie Barnett - The mother of Andrew Barnett.
Robert Kagan - Bonnie Barnett's husband.
Ovi Levy – A friend of the promoter.
Several hedge funds, including Centurion Credit, Clockwork Capital, and Platinum Management
Barry Florescue - a Fort Lauderdale businessman.
UPDATED AS OF 11/25/2009
AMENDED CIVIL COMPLAINT - Includes claims indicating the following people are involved to some degree with investing. Those persons may include the following: Mel Lifshitz, Ted Morse, Ed Morse, Richard Pearson, A.J. Discala, Dean Kretschmar, Ira Sochet, Mc Melvin, Mark Nordlicht, Jack Simony, Steve Jackel, Laurence King, Frank Preve, Barry Bekkadam, Michael Szafranski, and Steve Levin, and his father, George Levin.
AMENDED CIVIL COMPLAINT CAPTION - (Also 11/25,2009)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA - Docket Number 09-062943 (19)
RAZORBACK FUNDING, LLC, D3 CASE NO., CAPITAL CLUB, LLC, BFMC, INVESTMENT, LLC, LINDA VON ALLMEN, as Trustee of the VON ALLMEN DYNASTY TRUST, D&L PARTNERS, LP, ALLMEN, as Trustee of the DAVIDVON ALL MEN LIVING TRUST, ANN VON ALLMEN, as Trustee of the ANN VON ALLMEN LIVING TRUST, DEAN KRETSCHMAR,
Plaintiffs,
v.
SCOTT W. ROTHSTEIN, DAVID BODEN, DEBRA VILLEGAS, ANDREW BARNETT, N.A., FRANK SPINOSA, JENNIFER KERSTETTER, ROSANNE CARETSKY, DAVID VONandIRENE STAY, TD BANK, BANYON INCOME FUND, L.P., BANYON USVI, LLC, GEORGE G. LEVIN, SZAFRANSKI, ONYX OPTIONS CONSULTANTS CORPORATION, and BERENFELD SPRITZER SHECHTER SHEER, LLP, FRANK PREVE, MICHAEL
Defendants.
__________________________________
COLLATERAL WITNESSES AND BUSINESSES MENTIONED IN THE INVESTIGATION
John Ciriello, an antiques dealer living in Pompano Beach
Solid Gold – Employed a dancer allegedly associated with Scott Rothsetein.
Unidentified Dancer - Exotic
Ritz-Carlton Hotel – Place for meeting and socializing by some of those involved.
Stephan Maloman - Photographs from the million-dollar Rothstein wedding at the Versace mansion in January 2008.
Kimberly Rothstein – Scott Rothstein’s wife.
Unidentified Blog Commenter – “Teddy Paparazzi”
LEGAL TEAMS AND LAWYERS
Marc Nurik – Scott Rothstein’s lawyer.
Jordi Guso, a bankruptcy attorney for the law firm of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.
Jeff Sonn and John Genovese Attorneys on behalf of a few creditors filed the petition for involuntary bankruptcy of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.
Herbert Stettin, who had been appointed by a Broward judge as the receiver, will now become the firm's chief restructuring officer.
Norman D. Tripp is the Morses' lawyer. Morses’ are alleged to be clients of Rothstein and his law firm.
Bill Salim, Attorney who is representing Levy family members, including Ovadia and Rachel.
PRESS AND BLOGS COVERING THE STORY
Staff Writers Jon Burstein, Paula McMahon and Brittany Wallman.
Sally Kestin can be reached at skestin@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4510.
Peter Franceschina can be reached at pfranceschina@SunSentinel.com or 954-459-2255.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Miami Herald JAY WEAVER, SCOTT HIAASEN AND AMY SHERMAN
jweaver@MiamiHerald.com
Broward Palm Beach Blog – Benjamin Lamberti and Bob Norman. Mr. Norman has the most complete comments and updates.
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2009/11/david_benjamin_lamberti_scott_rothstein.php
CAVEAT: A woman wrote to me and a fair interpretation of her conclusions was in my opinion not borne out by the facts. I think it's important not to draw conclusions the facts don't support. For instance there is an understanding developing that Ponzi Schemes are the result of more than just one person; several people are needed to engage in an enterprise that results in pulling in investors. These ancillary participants support the basic misconceptions the principal deceiver creates and they often times include feeders, finance people, accountants, stockbrokers, bankers, bookkeepers, other investors (probably fake or make believe investors), lawyers and confidence people. Ponzi schemes are usually the results of many people acting in concert assuring the naïve investors that everything is alright and the returns are justifiably rational. Therefore you can’t draw to a conclusion that, if the Ponzi scheme and Melissa Lewis’ murder were somehow related that the principal suspect in the Ponzi scheme had anything to do with the murder. Melissa Lewis’ murderer may never be found and without there being supporting evidence such a conclusion is unwarranted. In other words there can be many people who might want an honest person with knowledge dead. It certainly is proper for the police and FBI investigators to have such a hunch and to see if the evidence does lead them to that conclusion. But assuming the conclusion without sufficient evidence is incorrect. Anyone with evidence should come forward and contact the FBI. [John Gillies - Miami FBI Special Agent in Charge of the case and the head of the FBI in South Florida or Gilbert Garza - IRS Acting Special Agent in Charge.
FBI Investor Contact - rothstein.investment@ic.fbi.gov. or call 800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324).]
LET’S MAKE A DEAL: Those with inside information that are a part of this scheme should consider what position they will be in should another insider work a PLEA BARGAIN DEAL ahead of YOU. With police and prosecutors it’s first come –first serve on plea bargains. And think about this, there is nothing stopping someone at the inner workings of this mess to step forward and in the process of making a deal blame you for more than you were responsible.