Name partner of shuttered Fla. law firm faces criminal case, wants to ‘get on with his life’
By Martha Neil
ABA Journal
Mar 7, 2014
A name partner of the shuttered Florida law firm led by imprisoned swindler Scott Rothstein has been criminally charged with conspiracy to violate federal election laws.
Russell Adler was charged in a criminal information filed by federal prosecutors in Fort Lauderdale, which usually signifies that the defendant is cooperating with the government, according to the South Florida Business Journal's Scott Rothstein: Picking up the Pieces blog and the Sun Sentinel.
His lawyer, Fred Haddad, told the Sun Sentinel that the recent conviction of attorney Christina Kitterman, who formerly worked for Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, and a wire fraud plea by Douglas Bates, a lawyer from another firm accused of helping Rothstein with a Ponzi scheme he operated while running the Fort Lauderdale-based RRA, persuaded Adler that it was time.
"Obviously, since Rothstein's performance in the Kitterman trial and Bates' plea, things have come together for the government," Haddad told the newspaper, referring to Rothstein's testimony in the Kitterman case. "Russell is charged with illegal campaign contributions and wants to resolve this and get on with his life."
The articles do not provide details of the charge against Adler. Others connected to RRA have previously been accused of making large contributions to Republican election campaigns, including those of former presidential candidate John McCain and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, for which the donors allegedly were illegally reimbursed by law firm "bonus" checks.
Rothstein is serving a 50-year federal prison term in the witness protection program after being convicted of swindling investors of some $1.2 billion in various schemes. He has been cooperating with the government and lawyers for swindled investors in various matters, reportedly hoping for a sentence reduction.
See also:
ABAJournal.com (Feb. 2011): "Ex-Rothstein Partner Will Pay Up to $500K to Settle Clawback Suit re Alleged Excess Compensation"
ABAJournal.com (Dec. 2011): "Convicted in $1.2B Ponzi Scheme, Scott Rothstein Said in Depo That 2 Law Firm Partners Benefited"
Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Marissa Alexander Is Given No Bail Today - New Evidence Comes To Court
"Ironically, the same state attorney that failed to successfully prosecute George Zimmerman, is the same attorney that sent Marissa Alexander to prison. State Attorney Angela Corey 'twisted the knife' by refusing to drop Alexander's case,even after it was overturned in September."
Updated: Marissa Alexander Is Given No Bail Today - New Evidence Comes To Court
by Leslie Salzillo
Daily Kos
Nov 13, 2013
Marissa Alexander, the Florida woman who was sentenced to 20 years for firing a warning shot to ward off her abusive husband, was granted no bail Wednesday afternoon in a Jacksonville courtroom. The mother of three will most likely not get to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with her children, as the 'deciding judge' opted to make no decision and set another hearing for January 15, 2012 - pending of course, that he does, or does not, change his mind.
In 2010, just days after giving birth, Marissa Alexander fired a warning shot in self-defense to keep her abusive husband, Rico Gray, from attacking her. In his deposition, Gray who has a history of abusing Alexander, admitted it, stated he intended to hurt her had she not fired the warning shot, and said she did the right thing. He also said Alexander did not aim he gun at him. Gray then changed his story once the case went to trial. He walked out a free man - Marissa Alexander, the battered wife, received 20 years. The Florida Stand Your Ground Law did not work for Alexander because she fired a warning shot. Had she shot and killed Rico Gray that day, she would have most likely served no time at all.
My source who was in the courtroom today, reported new evidence has been brought forth - a text message of Rico Gray asking Marissa to come over for sex while there was an order of protection. Rico Gray claims Marissa should not be let out on bond because he is afraid of Marissa; he fears/feared for his life. Does asking her for sex sound like someone who feared for his life?
“I was in a rage. I called her a whore and bitch and . . . I told her, you know, I used to always tell her that, if I can’t have you, nobody going to have you. It was not the first time of ever saying it to her.”~ Rico Gray in his deposition on November 22, 2010.
Again, does this sound like a man fearing for his life?
Marissa Alexander's case has been highly publicized from the start, and the Free Marissa Now campaign has grown throughout social media. The case was catapulted into even more national spotlight, following the George Zimmerman case. In July 2013, Zimmerman was set free after killing teenager, Trayvon Martin, even though Zimmerman was the aggressor. Ironically, the same state attorney that failed to successfully prosecute George Zimmerman, is the same attorney that sent Marissa Alexander to prison. State Attorney Angela Corey 'twisted the knife' by refusing to drop Alexander's case,even after it was overturned in September.
Unless something changes, it doesn't look as though Marissa Alexander and her three children will be having happy holidays, as she awaits a new bail hearing, and then a whole new trial in March 2014. Supposedly the next trial will be different. This time, Florida courts say the burden of proof will be placed upon them rather than Marissa Alexander. Isn't that how it's supposed to work, Florida?
If you're in an abusive relationship, or know someone who may be, there is help: Call: 800-799-SAFE/National Domestic Violence Hotline or Call: 800-656-HOPE/RAINN (Rape,Abuse, & Incest National Network)
Updated: Marissa Alexander Is Given No Bail Today - New Evidence Comes To Court
by Leslie Salzillo
Daily Kos
Nov 13, 2013
Marissa Alexander, the Florida woman who was sentenced to 20 years for firing a warning shot to ward off her abusive husband, was granted no bail Wednesday afternoon in a Jacksonville courtroom. The mother of three will most likely not get to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with her children, as the 'deciding judge' opted to make no decision and set another hearing for January 15, 2012 - pending of course, that he does, or does not, change his mind.
In 2010, just days after giving birth, Marissa Alexander fired a warning shot in self-defense to keep her abusive husband, Rico Gray, from attacking her. In his deposition, Gray who has a history of abusing Alexander, admitted it, stated he intended to hurt her had she not fired the warning shot, and said she did the right thing. He also said Alexander did not aim he gun at him. Gray then changed his story once the case went to trial. He walked out a free man - Marissa Alexander, the battered wife, received 20 years. The Florida Stand Your Ground Law did not work for Alexander because she fired a warning shot. Had she shot and killed Rico Gray that day, she would have most likely served no time at all.
My source who was in the courtroom today, reported new evidence has been brought forth - a text message of Rico Gray asking Marissa to come over for sex while there was an order of protection. Rico Gray claims Marissa should not be let out on bond because he is afraid of Marissa; he fears/feared for his life. Does asking her for sex sound like someone who feared for his life?
“I was in a rage. I called her a whore and bitch and . . . I told her, you know, I used to always tell her that, if I can’t have you, nobody going to have you. It was not the first time of ever saying it to her.”~ Rico Gray in his deposition on November 22, 2010.
Again, does this sound like a man fearing for his life?
Marissa Alexander's case has been highly publicized from the start, and the Free Marissa Now campaign has grown throughout social media. The case was catapulted into even more national spotlight, following the George Zimmerman case. In July 2013, Zimmerman was set free after killing teenager, Trayvon Martin, even though Zimmerman was the aggressor. Ironically, the same state attorney that failed to successfully prosecute George Zimmerman, is the same attorney that sent Marissa Alexander to prison. State Attorney Angela Corey 'twisted the knife' by refusing to drop Alexander's case,even after it was overturned in September.
Unless something changes, it doesn't look as though Marissa Alexander and her three children will be having happy holidays, as she awaits a new bail hearing, and then a whole new trial in March 2014. Supposedly the next trial will be different. This time, Florida courts say the burden of proof will be placed upon them rather than Marissa Alexander. Isn't that how it's supposed to work, Florida?
If you're in an abusive relationship, or know someone who may be, there is help: Call: 800-799-SAFE/National Domestic Violence Hotline or Call: 800-656-HOPE/RAINN (Rape,Abuse, & Incest National Network)
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