Scott Rothstein, a prominent Fort Lauderdale attorney, used his charm and reputation to lure investors into a massive Ponzi scheme, promising them high returns on investments in supposedly settled employment-related lawsuits. However, the settlements were fake, and Rothstein used the money from new investors to pay off earlier investors, while keeping a significant portion for himself. The scheme, which lasted from 2005 to 2009, involved over 400 investors and was one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history. In October 2009, Rothstein fled to Morocco, but he was eventually arrested and extradited to the United States. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison and ordered to pay $2.4 billion in restitution. The Rothstein Ponzi scheme had a significant impact on the Fort Lauderdale community, with many investors losing their life savings. The case also raised questions about the lack of oversight in the financial industry and the ease with which individuals can perpetrate massive frauds.