Judge Calls Scott Rothstein to the Witness Stand

Convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein could make his first public appearance in months, in the trial of a former colleague who stands accused of aiding Mr. Rothstein’s $1.2 billion-plus fraud.

The South Florida Business Journal on Monday reported that a federal judge has ordered Mr. Rothstein to appear as a witness in the criminal trial of Christina Kitterman, an attorney who once worked at Mr. Rothstein’s bankrupt law firm, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.

Mr. Rothstein not only hasn’t been seen publicly for months, but it’s also currently unknown where he’s serving his 50-year prison sentence. That’s because Mr. Rothstein, who testified against many people, including some with alleged Mafia ties, is in the federal witness protection program after pleading guilty to running the Ponzi scheme.

The disbarred attorney, who shook up South Florida with his sudden rise to local fame and even more sudden downfall, did participate in two depositions in late 2011 and summer 2012, although the first session was only open to certain attorneys while the second was conducted via video conference.

Mr. Rothstein named Ms. Kitterman as an aide to his fraud in his second deposition session. If he does appear to testify in her trial, it’s unclear whether he’d do so in an open or closed courtroom.

Federal prosecutors have accused Ms. Kitterman of posing as an investigator with the Florida Bar to help Mr. Rothstein pitch phony legal settlements to investors. Ms. Kitterman has pleaded not guilty and has denied knowledge of the fraud, with her lawyer saying she was “duped” by Mr. Rothstein.

Write to Jacqueline Palank at [email protected].