Former Rothstein partner Russell Adler gets 2 1/2 years in prison
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Ponzi schemer's partner sentenced to 30 months in prison
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Disbarred lawyer and former Scott Rothstein law partner Russell Adler was sentenced to 30 months in prison for making illegal political campaign donations and must surrender in 90 days.
When Russell Adler joined Scott Rothstein's growing Fort Lauderdale practice ten years ago, he insisted the law firm change its name – making it Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, or RRA.
As a judge sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in federal prison on Friday, Adler said the name change was the first of a series of decisions he deeply regrets.
"Being the A in RRA turned into an ironic curse that has ruined my name and haunts and humiliates me to this day," he told the judge.
The law firm went bankrupt in late 2009 when Rothstein's $1.4 billion Ponzi scheme was exposed and all three name partners have now pleaded guilty to committing federal crimes.
Adler, 52, who admitted he illegally funneled campaign donations to Republican presidential and Senate campaigns on Rothstein's behalf, began visibly shaking in court as U.S. District Judge James Cohn announced his punishment.
He put his fingers to his eyes and sighed deeply.
When the law firm was "awash with cash" in 2008 and 2009, Judge Cohn wondered aloud what exactly Adler – an experienced attorney and name partner – thought was happening.
"Mr. Adler was at the epicenter, he was at ground zero. Was he blind and deaf as to what was going on?" the judge asked. "The public needs to see that there is a price to pay for conduct such as this."
The former lawyer, who was permanently disbarred last week, must begin serving his prison term on Sept. 29. Sentencing guidelines recommended a prison term of two to 2 1/2 years, followed by two years of supervised release.
Adler, of Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale, apologized for his crimes and said he was devastated his 27-year career as a lawyer ended with disbarment.
"I leave my profession in shame and disgrace ... But my wounds are self-inflicted," he said.
The judge asked prosecutors Friday if he should consider Rothstein's Ponzi scheme activities at the law firm in sentencing Adler.
Rothstein gave sworn statements alleging that Adler knew about his investment fraud scheme and helped Rothstein keep it afloat. Adler has always denied those claims.
Adler could not "legally be held responsible for the activities of the Ponzi," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence LaVecchio. But he noted Adler was involved in other misconduct – including lying to a co-op board in New York City about borrowing money from the law firm to buy an apartment.
Supporters, including Senior Broward Circuit Judge Richard Eade, spoke on Adler's behalf and praised his professionalism, ethics and generosity.
One former client, Mary Haig, told the judge Adler charged no fee when he won a $1.8 million settlement for her daughter, who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
"He treated my daughter like his own," Haig said.
Adler stayed with her daughter in the hospital in 2003 and held her hand when the parents had to briefly leave her side, Haig said.
And a formerly homeless man, Michael Gudewicz, told the judge Adler saved his life when he invited him to be his roommate in the Point of Americas condo on Fort Lauderdale beach where they lived for months, before moving together to Delray Beach.
Those acts of compassion and charity were laudable, the judge said, but there was other issues about Adler's behavior in recent years that caused him concern.
As a judge sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in federal prison on Friday, Adler said the name change was the first of a series of decisions he deeply regrets.
"Being the A in RRA turned into an ironic curse that has ruined my name and haunts and humiliates me to this day," he told the judge.
Adler, 52, who admitted he illegally funneled campaign donations to Republican presidential and Senate campaigns on Rothstein's behalf, began visibly shaking in court as U.S. District Judge James Cohn announced his punishment.
When the law firm was "awash with cash" in 2008 and 2009, Judge Cohn wondered aloud what exactly Adler – an experienced attorney and name partner – thought was happening.
"Mr. Adler was at the epicenter, he was at ground zero. Was he blind and deaf as to what was going on?" the judge asked. "The public needs to see that there is a price to pay for conduct such as this."
The former lawyer, who was permanently disbarred last week, must begin serving his prison term on Sept. 29. Sentencing guidelines recommended a prison term of two to 2 1/2 years, followed by two years of supervised release.
Adler, of Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale, apologized for his crimes and said he was devastated his 27-year career as a lawyer ended with disbarment.
"I leave my profession in shame and disgrace ... But my wounds are self-inflicted," he said.
The judge asked prosecutors Friday if he should consider Rothstein's Ponzi scheme activities at the law firm in sentencing Adler.
Rothstein gave sworn statements alleging that Adler knew about his investment fraud scheme and helped Rothstein keep it afloat. Adler has always denied those claims.
Adler could not "legally be held responsible for the activities of the Ponzi," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence LaVecchio. But he noted Adler was involved in other misconduct – including lying to a co-op board in New York City about borrowing money from the law firm to buy an apartment.
Supporters, including Senior Broward Circuit Judge Richard Eade, spoke on Adler's behalf and praised his professionalism, ethics and generosity.
One former client, Mary Haig, told the judge Adler charged no fee when he won a $1.8 million settlement for her daughter, who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
"He treated my daughter like his own," Haig said.
Adler stayed with her daughter in the hospital in 2003 and held her hand when the parents had to briefly leave her side, Haig said.
And a formerly homeless man, Michael Gudewicz, told the judge Adler saved his life when he invited him to be his roommate in the Point of Americas condo on Fort Lauderdale beach where they lived for months, before moving together to Delray Beach.
Those acts of compassion and charity were laudable, the judge said, but there was other issues about Adler's behavior in recent years that caused him concern.
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