Feds Seize Computers, Cash At Fla. Lawyer's Office

CURT ANDERSON

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Federal agents seized computers, bank and investment records, cash and even the key to a Ferrari during an all-night search at the office of an attorney suspected of operating a massive fraud scheme.

The firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, released a 10-page list of items taken by FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents who completed their search at 5 a.m. Thursday at the Fort Lauderdale office. More than 40 boxes of records were seized.

The investigation focuses on attorney Scott Rothstein, who is suspected of misappropriating millions of dollars through investments in legal settlements that may have been faked.

No charges have been filed, although Rothstein has met at length with investigators since returning from Morocco on Tuesday. Rothstein's attorney, Marc Nurik, would not confirm reports that Rothstein is cooperating in the probe or has admitted any wrongdoing.

"A lot of people are reporting things they don't know anything about," Nurik said. "There's a lot of speculation and conjecture out there."

Rothstein, 47, a flashy attorney who has raised millions of dollars for charities and politicians, has made no public statement since the fraud allegations surfaced earlier this week. The state Democratic and Republican parties are both returning tens of thousands of dollars in Rothstein's donations, and Gov. Charlie Crist is giving back $9,600 from his U.S. Senate campaign.