Another Rothstein Associate Plead Guilty In Ponzi Scam
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) -- Another former associate of convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein pled guilty Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale federal court to wire fraud conspiracy.
William Corte, 38, of Plantation now faces a five-year prison sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2011.
Corte was a document management specialist in the IT department at Rothstein's now defunct law firm. He and another IT specialist, Curtis Renie, are accused of setting up a bogus TD Bank web site to make it look like Rothstein was well-funded. On one occasion, investigators say, the fake bank account stated he had more than a billion dollars in the bank. The false account balances were shown to investors to induce them to invest into the fraudulent investment scheme.
Renie has already pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy along with former Rothstein law partner Howard Kusnick, 59, of Tamarac, and Stephen Caputi, 53, of Lauderhill, who was Rothstein's partner in the Café Iguana nightclub in Pembroke Pines. Café Iguana is in the process of being sold by the government to repay Rothstein's victims.
Caputi's sentencing is set for late August and Kusnick's sentencing is set for September 2nd.
Rothstein is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to racketeering, money laundering and fraud. He is serving the sentence in an undisclosed location after helping authorities prosecute a reputed Mafia figure. Authorities have been selling off Rothstein's homes, boats, flashy cars and other assets to compensate wronged investors.
Previously charged was Rothstein's former top assistant Debra Villegas. She is serving a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a money-laundering conspiracy charge. Prosecutors say more arrests are expected.
