Former Rothstein Associate Sentenced To 6 Months In Prison
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A former employee of convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein has been sentenced for her role in the $1.2 billion scam.
Marybeth Feiss was sentenced Friday to six months in federal prison.
She pleaded guilty earlier this year to a conspiracy charge involving illegal campaign contributions as an administrative assistant at his now defunct Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm.
She made a $2,300 contribution to Republican John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, which Rothstein illegally reimbursed her for making. She also admitted she was part of Rothstein's $900,000 conspiracy to get around political donation laws by making political contributions in other people's names, though federal prosecutors said she did not know the extent or details of the plot, according to The Sun Sentinel.
She could have faced two years or more in prison, but the judge ruled more leniently due to her low level of involvement in the scheme.
Feiss made a tearful and detailed apology in court, and asked the judge to consider placing her on house arrest or probation so she could continue to care for her 14-year-old daughter
Though Feiss is not expected to testify against other defendants, she tried to help prosecutors but did not have enough relevant information, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence LaVecchio said in court. She is to start serving her prison term at the end of August.
Rothstein is serving a 50-year prison sentence. His scam involved investments in fake legal settlements.
