Kim Rothstein: Give Me My Bling Back

Wife of convicted Ponzi schemer files claim for jewelry return

Kim Rothstein won't be seeing husband Scott for a few decades, but she's hoping she'll see some of her pricey jewelry real soon.

The wife of the South Florida convicted Ponzi schemer who was sentenced to 50 years behind bars earlier this month is seeking to get back some of the bling she forfeited to the government, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Kim Rothstein is hoping to recover the baubles she was given before her husband began his estimated $1.2 billion scheme, which she handed over to federal agents as Scott's scam imploded late last year.

“Beginning as early as approximately 2004, and continuing until in or about 2005, but prior to committing the criminal acts for which he now stands convicted and sentenced, defendant Rothstein gave petitioner certain items of jewelry and other gifts based on their personal friendship and relationship,” Kim Rothstein’s claim, filed Friday, reads.

Over 300 pieces of jewelry were seized from Kim Rothstein, not to mention all the other junk she bought, all worth about $900,000.

According to a lawsuit filed against Kim Rothstein by bankruptcy attorneys in March, Mrs. Rothstein ran up the charges on an American Express credit card issued by Scott's now-defunct firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.  

Kim's $900,000 tab, racked up from 2006 until about the time the Rothstein fraud unraveled in Oct. 2009, runs the gamut of everything a trophy wife needs.

"Jewelry, clothing, shoes, handbags, leather goods, plastic surgery treatments, eyewear, electronics, local hotel room and spa charges, household furnishings, home gym equipment, vacations and personal travel, athletic club charges, groceries, charitable contributions, personal meals, general household and other items," according to the suit.

Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Zola Keller were some of her favorite brands.

Kim Rothstein may have to get in line if she wants any of her jewelry back. Investors in her husband's scheme have already filed several claims to the couple's property, including the proceeds from the massive auto and boat auction held earlier this month.

Bankruptcy lawyer Chuck Lichtman said Kim Rothstein should feel grateful if she's allowed to keep the clothes on her back.

"We’re incensed that Kim Rothstein thinks she should have an entitlement to this jewelry and we are going to do everything in our powers to protect the creditors’ interests in this jewelry," Lichtman told the Sun-Sentinel. "We take this matter very, very seriously."

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