Scott Rothstein, a prominent Fort Lauderdale attorney, was arrested on December 1, 2009, and charged with running a massive Ponzi scheme. The scheme, which involved the sale of fake settlements to investors, had been ongoing since 2005 and had attracted hundreds of investors, including many wealthy and prominent individuals. Rothstein had used the money from the scheme to fund a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of luxury homes, cars, and jewelry. The investigation into the scheme was led by the FBI and the SEC, and it was discovered that Rothstein had used a complex web of shell companies and fake documents to conceal the true nature of the scheme. On June 9, 2010, Rothstein pleaded guilty to running the Ponzi scheme and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The case of Scott Rothstein serves as a reminder of the dangers of Ponzi schemes and the importance of due diligence and oversight in the investment industry. The scheme also highlighted the need for greater regulation and oversight of the legal profession, particularly in the area of attorney trust accounts. In the aftermath of the Rothstein case, many of his investors were left to pick up the pieces and try to recover their losses, a process that would take years and result in significant financial and emotional hardship.