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Craig Rothfeld

Craig Rothfeld is an American accountant, legal advocate and prison consultant to public figures.[1] Rothfeld served 18 months in various New York state prisons after pleading guilty to falsifying business records.[2]

Early life and education

Rothfeld earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University at Albany, SUNY in 1993.[3] He obtained a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business from the New York University Stern School of Business in 1998.[4]

After his release from prison in June 2017, Rothfeld completed a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Post Graduate Certification in Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy, both from Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions.[4]

Career and conviction

Before his conviction, Rothfeld worked in the financial services industry at organizations such as Arthur Andersen & Co., Sotheby’s, Conectiv, and WJB Capital Group Inc.[3][5][6] WJB Capital dissolved in 2011, followed quickly by lawsuits from investors for fraud [7] and breach of contract.[8]

After being indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney in February 2014, Rothfeld pleaded guilty in a plea deal in July 2015 where he admitted to committing various financial crimes in return for a sentence of 1.5–4.5 years in New York State prison.[9] In December 2015, Rothfeld was convicted of grand larceny, tax fraud, and falsifying Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulatory financial statements and began serving his prison sentence of 1.5–4.5 years, which started with five weeks in Rikers Island.[10][11] Rothfeld and two others defrauded investors out of $11 million in total, using the money to fund personal expenses.[citation needed] Rothfeld's firm was first suspended from FINRA,[12] then barred from the securities industry.[13]

Post-Prison Career

Following his release in June 2017, Rothfeld began working as a prison consultant.[3][14] Rothfeld started working for former film producer Harvey Weinstein,[15] serving as Weinstein’s representative for corrections and health care matters[16] including Weinstein's emergency heart surgery[17] and COVID treatment while awaiting trial.[18] Rothfeld also worked with former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg[19][20][21] prior to his incarceration.[20]

Luigi Mangione retained Rothfeld as his prison consultant after he was accused of murdering UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson.[22][23][24][3][25] In April 2025, it was reported that Sheff G hired Rothfeld after he plead guilty to attempted murder.[26]

Rothfeld teaches Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses on prison conditions and sentencing issues to various bar associations such as the Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA), the Kings County Criminal Bar Association (KCCBA), the New York Criminal Bar Association (NYCBA), and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NYSACDL).[4] His courses cover topics such as prison conditions, sentencing advocacy, and inmate rehabilitation programs.[27][28]

References

  1. ^ Feuer, Alan (2020-03-04). "Harvey Weinstein Adds 'Prison Consultant' to His Entourage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  2. ^ Vance, Cyrus R. (2015). "2015 Annual Report" (PDF). Manhattan District Attorney's Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 13 Mar 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Meet Luigi Mangione's high-flying prison consultant Craig Rothfeld". South China Morning Post. 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  4. ^ a b c Abruzzese, Rob (2023-10-17). "KCCBA hosts seminar on sentencing, featuring expert Craig Rothfeld". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  5. ^ "BrokerCheck - Find a broker, investment or financial advisor". BrokerCheck by FINRA. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  6. ^ Staff, Editorial (2008-08-11). "Floor Brokerages Remake Themselves". Traders Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  7. ^ Ahmed, Azam (2012-01-03). "Unable to Raise Capital, Brokerage Firm Calls It Quits". DealBook. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  8. ^ McLaughlin, David (3 January 2012). "WJB Capital Group Sued in New York State for Alleged Fraud". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 29 Mar 2025. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  9. ^ "Defunct WJB Capital and two execs hid company's financial distress for years, Finra says". InvestmentNews. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  10. ^ Staff, Editorial (2014-02-10). "WJB Capital Executives Charged in Plan to Prop Up Brokerage". Traders Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  11. ^ Freifeld, Karen (10 Jan 2023). "Longtime Trump CFO Weisselberg gets 5 months in jail in tax fraud case". Reuters. Retrieved 3 Apr 2025.
  12. ^ "Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions" (PDF). FINRA. June 2012. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  13. ^ Marcinek, Laura (15 Aug 2012). "Finra Expels WJB Capital, Bars Chief for Misstating Records". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 13 Mar 2025. Retrieved 13 Mar 2025.
  14. ^ "Harvey Weinstein's 'prison consultant': Ex-broker-dealer executive and ex-con who advocates for inmates". Financial Planning. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  15. ^ Messina, Toni (2020-03-09). "How Useful Is A Prison Consultant To Harvey Weinstein". Above the Law. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  16. ^ Wallace • •, Sarah (2020-03-05). "Harvey Weinstein Hires 'Prison Consultant' to Prep Him for a Life Behind Bars". NBC New York. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  17. ^ Fadulu, Lola; Rosman, Katherine (2024-09-09). "Harvey Weinstein Is Hospitalized for Emergency Heart Surgery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  18. ^ Mier, Tomás (2024-07-25). "Harvey Weinstein Hospitalized With Covid, Double Pneumonia: Report". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  19. ^ Italiano, Laura. "As Trump Org's jail-bound ex-CFO testifies, Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant is watching". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  20. ^ a b "Longtime Trump CFO Weisselberg gets 5 months in jail in tax fraud case". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  21. ^ Italiano, Laura. "Trump's top money man, Allen Weisselberg, is braced to hear the door clang shut at NYC's notorious Rikers jail on Tuesday". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  22. ^ "Accused Assassin Of Unitedhealthcare CEO Retains Prison Consultant". inkl. 2025-01-06. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  23. ^ Ruiz, Michael (2025-01-06). "Luigi Mangione hires Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant Craig Rothfeld: report". Fox News. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  24. ^ "Luigi Mangione Enlists Former Inmate and Consultant Craig Rothfeld for Defense Strategy Amid Murder Charges". Hoodline. 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  25. ^ Silverglate, Roberta (2025-04-02). "What's Next for Luigi Mangione After DOJ Reveals It Seeks Death Penalty". California Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  26. ^ Johnson, Richard (2025-04-13). "RICHARD JOHNSON: Trump giddy over romance between Don Jr.'s ex and Tiger Woods". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  27. ^ "OCT 4 SENTENCING CLE". Kings County Criminal Bar Association. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  28. ^ "NY State Sentencing Implications from Rikers to DOCCS Custody and Beyond. Part 3: Administrative Challenges and Remedies". New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Retrieved 3 Apr 2025.