Awards Dinner Illuminates Ties Among Rothstein, Lamberti, and the ADL

Lamberti received an award at the ADL dinner.

​On November 4, the day after alleged Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein returned from his trip to Morocco, a special party was held at the Westin Fort Lauderdale. Its attendance list reads like a who's who of political heavy-hitters in Broward.

The local chapter of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization that fights anti-Semitism, was hosting the Broward County Community of Respect Awards Dinner. Two people were scheduled to be honored at the event: Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti and local attorney Michael Moskowitz.

Rothstein's firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, was one of the event's main sponsors, and the chairman was Rothstein's law partner, Stuart Rosenfeldt. Tickets
were $180 a pop, and the proceeds were to benefit the ADL.

Lamberti was honored for his "exemplary leadership in the fight against hate and extremism," acccording to an article advertising the event in Society Scene.

 "We are proud to partner with Sheriff Lamberti and the Broward County Sheriff's Office in combating all forms of hatred," Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL Florida's regional director, told Society Scene. "ADL applauds his outstanding contributions to law enforcement and to the citizens of Broward County."

Moskowitz, meanwhile, is a prominent Broward attorney and lobbyist who has represented lobbyist Russ Klenet -- Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter's husband -- in the past. In fact, when Ritter's dad allegedly threatened her with a gun last month, she fled to Moskowitz's house. So it's no surprise that Rittter was cochairing the event, along with Rosenfeldt.

The question is how Rosenfeldt managed to put on a brave face for the soiree. His law firm had sponsored two other ADL events earlier in the year and was clearly a big supporter of the organization.

But by November 4, Rosenfeldt had told reporters that he was "crying nonstop," watching his law firm disintegrate because of Rothstein's alleged schemes involving investments in bogus lawsuit settlements.

Did Rosenfeldt keep his promise to chair the event? That's unclear, because the Juice's call to the ADL has not yet received a response. But Broward County Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Dani Moschella confirmed that Lamberti attended the dinner and received his award.

In the past few weeks, New Times columnist Bob Norman has revealed some serious links between Lamberti's office and Rothstein. The alleged Ponzi schemer contributed heavily to Lamberti's election campaign last year, and BSO Lt. David Benjamin personally escorted Rothstein to his jet at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport when Rothstein fled the country October 27.

All of these factors would certainly make for some uncomfortable moments at the awards dinner. If nothing else, the event illustrates just how deeply entrenched Rothstein was in Broward's political power structure.