Not sure how many people here know this, but there’s an old saying that when one is running on Ponzi scheme, one needs total focus. It’s a lot of work defrauding investors and while some activities by your staff are tolerable (smoking weed in every corner of the office, as well as the parking garage and the courtyard out back and having sex with prostitutes on the desk), a line must be drawn at those which create unacceptable distractions, like dealing said pot and purveying said prosties. If that doesn’t make any sense or you’re confused at the finely drawn distinction, perhaps convicted Ponzster Scott Rothstein, who was deposed on the matter today, can shed some light.

Q: All right. So you said the only drugs you used were marijuana with your wife. Is she the only — you didn’t — that wasn’t incorporated in the rock-star lifestyle, using drugs with any of your investors or co-conspirators?

Rothstein: No, actually, never. Actually, I had a lot of opportunities to because there was a lot of marijuana smoking going on in my office, but it wasn’t something — I prefer to drink vodka.

Q: Actually in the office it was going on?

Rothstein: In the office, in the garage, outside the office, I had some partners that couldn’t come to work without smoking pot.

Q: Okay.

Rothstein: I also found out they were actually dealing drugs in the office. I actually tried to put a stop to that.

Q: That was one crime you wouldn’t tolerate?

Rothstein: No, no, it’s not that. I didn’t want to draw attention. You don’t want to have marijuana dealing from the middle of your law office because I was running a giant Ponzi scheme out of there.

Q: Did you ever have any of the escorts visit the office?

Rothstein: Yeah. Sure.

Q: You had had prostitutes in the office, but you wouldn’t have pot?

Rothstein: You’re missing the point. The police also were sleeping with my escorts….Pot, not a great idea in the office, I don’t know why, specifically, it bothered me; but it troubled me, probably because they were actually dealing the pot out of the office while I was in the middle of running a several-hundred-million-dollar Ponzi scheme.

Get it now? No further questions.

Rothstein: As Ponzi Scheme Unfolded, My Co-Workers Got Blazed [WSJ/Law Blog]

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Comments (23)

  1. Posted by Tubbs | January 3, 2012 at 7:53 PM

    We're coming for you, Scotty. Dade PD hates criminals, but can't abide squealers.

  2. Posted by George | January 3, 2012 at 8:24 PM

    Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? I tell you, I gotta plead ignorance on this thing…

  3. Posted by guest | January 3, 2012 at 8:43 PM

    Serious question- what the fuck are you talking about?

  4. Posted by Jimmy C | January 3, 2012 at 8:46 PM

    Amateur. Hookers? NO! Firing up sticky blunts? OK!

  5. Posted by Guest | January 3, 2012 at 8:57 PM

    Fucking Pussy

    Jimmy C

  6. Posted by Guest | January 3, 2012 at 9:33 PM

    Taser

  7. Posted by Guest | January 3, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    That tie and matching lapel handkercheif resulted in a quick decline of this investment opportunity.

    - discerning LP who did not invest

  8. Posted by Gordon Liddy | January 3, 2012 at 10:09 PM

    I bet you could bounce a check off those hooker's asses.

    Nails

  9. Posted by J. Epstein | January 3, 2012 at 11:19 PM

    The tie and hankie say 'I like rich, old ladies,' but the Dap hairgel says 'Take me to the AMP!'

  10. Posted by momentus | January 3, 2012 at 11:49 PM

    I'm serious…this guy has upper management written all over him. He coulda been a senator.

  11. Posted by Newguy | January 4, 2012 at 7:04 AM

    Wow…an attorney admitting to a massive amount of felonies during a depostition? The legal NKI.

  12. Posted by JT Marlin | January 4, 2012 at 8:16 AM

    That tie alone is worth 2-3 years up state

  13. Posted by Bobweirsamelook | January 4, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    not to mention the 1000 yard percocet stare…

  14. Posted by Gross | January 4, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    Sounds like a straight shooter to me.

  15. Posted by Sonny Crockett | January 4, 2012 at 9:34 AM

    Ditto

  16. Posted by Guest | January 4, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    That suite and tie say "I am dishonest".

  17. Posted by Guest | January 4, 2012 at 10:22 AM

    I mean, if I'm running a Ponzi scheme. I'm skipping the pot and going straight to a Pat Bateman recreation.

    "NOT IN THE FACE YOU PIECE OF ****** TRASH!"

  18. Posted by Guest | January 4, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    "[I don't always get plastered with prostitutes in my office, but when I do,] I prefer to drink vodka." – Scott Rothstein

  19. Posted by Abe_Froman_ | January 4, 2012 at 12:23 PM

    Ahem…Ultimat vodka, someone has to make sure bess keeps showing up.

  20. Posted by Pauly D | January 4, 2012 at 12:30 PM

    Yeah, aside from that he looks like a straight shooter.

  21. Posted by Bros before CDOs | January 4, 2012 at 1:12 PM

    He just seemed like such a nice boy

  22. Posted by mrpink | January 4, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    He looks so regal in that pic

  23. Posted by Matt's Mom | January 4, 2012 at 6:22 PM

    You're new here, aren't you.

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