The former right-hand woman to Scott Rothstein pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering charges inside a Fort Lauderdale federal court Wednesday.
Debra Villegas, COO of defunct lawfirm Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, made the plea after turning herself in to authorities early this morning.
Villegas, 42, wore a beige pants suit and had shackles on her hands and legs as she appeared in court around 10:30 a.m.
During the hearing, prosecutor Lawrence LaVecchio said Villegas had been cooperating with the government since November, and that she came to investigators on her own, with no deal in place.
Villegas gave the Feds several interviews, and has been cooperating with authorities in discussing other crimes that were committed by Rothstein's former lawfirm, which may include campaign finance reform.
LaVecchio recommended Villegas be freed on bond so she could continue to help with the case, saying that she knew this day was coming for months, didn't avoid it, and was no flight risk. In the end, the judge set her bond at $250,000.
Villegas' attorney, Robert Stickney, asked for her release, saying that she is basically indigent, has no money to post the bond, and even had her Cadillac Escalade repossessed recently.
She later left the courthouse but refused to talk to reporters.
Stickney also said that Villegas is suffering from Vasovagal Syncope, a condition which causes her to faint under stressful conditions. He said that she moved to Clewiston a few months ago to escape some of the stress the case has caused to her and her family.
Villegas is accused of helping Rothstein run his estimated $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, forging legal settlement documents which Rothstein used to lure investors into his scheme.
Considered Rothstein's right-hand woman at RRA, Villegas is the first co-conspirator and only person besides Rothstein to be charged under the scheme.
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Rothstein, 47, pleaded guilty to the scheme in January and is scheduled to be sentenced in June.
First a paralegal with the firm in the 1990s, Villegas rose to the prominent position and became one of Rothstein's closest advisers, who he called his second-in-command.
Rothstein showered her with gifts, including a half-million dollar home in Weston and a $100,000 Maserati. Stickney said both have been forfeited and turned over to the Feds.
Both Rothstein and Villegas are cooperating with authorities, and more people could be charged in the massive scam.
