David Benjamin, Extortion and Violating Civil Rights, Florida 2014

David Benjamin, a 48-year-old former Lieutenant of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a scheme to extort money from the now-defunct law firm of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt and Adler, P.A. (RRA), in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

According to court documents, Benjamin was paid approximately $185,000 in money and other things of value by RRA and its Chairman and CEO, Scott W. Rothstein, in exchange for providing his assistance in various illegal activities. These activities included arranging for the arrest of an attorney's ex-wife in a child custody dispute, using force and threats of force against the boyfriend of an escort who was threatening to expose Rothstein's illicit relationship, and assisting Rothstein in loading cash and jewelry onto a private airplane as he fled to Morocco on October 27, 2009.

Benjamin, who served as Executive Officer to then Sheriff Al Lamberti, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and to violate civil rights on May 13, 2014. He was subsequently sentenced by U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn on [Date] to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Benjamin was also ordered to pay $22,071 in restitution.

The investigation into Benjamin's activities was a result of the Rothstein investigation, which was a massive Ponzi scheme conducted through RRA. The scheme began to unravel in 2009, and Benjamin's actions were instrumental in helping Rothstein to escape.

The FBI, IRS-CI, and BSO worked together to investigate Benjamin's crimes, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lawrence D. LaVecchio, Paul F. Schwartz, and Jeffrey N. Kaplan.

Benjamin's case serves as a reminder of the corrupting influence of power and the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions. His sentence is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in rooting out corruption and bringing those responsible to justice.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, with the assistance of the FBI, IRS-CI, and BSO. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/broward-county-sheriff-s-deputy-sentenced-connection-rothstein-investigation-0