Lamberti’s Headache

TIES TO ROTHSTEIN COULD SINK RE-ELECTION BID

Ponzi scammer, Scott Rothstein, said in a deposition last week that he had a law enforcement officer on the payroll in Broward County to help him to pressure a client who Rothstein was fraudulently billing.

Federal prosecutors lept to their feet insisting that Rothstein not divulge the agency or police officer in question due to an ongoing investigation.  The Florida Clarion as learned that the agency in question is the Broward County Sherriff’s Office (BSO) and the Officer targeted for prosecution is Lt. David Benjamin, right hand man to Republican Sherriff Al Lamberti.

Scott Rothstein

Benjamin took $50,000 from Rothstein to receive preferential treatment by BSO Personnel. Rothstein regularly used patrol cars to chauffeur him around when he claimed he was carrying large amounts of client’s cash. Rothstein doled out thousands more in payments to off-duty BSO Officers who Rothstein used as his personal security force.

None of this is good news for Republican Sherriff Al Lamberti who faces re-election this November in the overwhelmingly Democratic County. Lamberti already made the mistake of sending Rothstein an effusive letter in which he said “”I appreciate your friendship over the past year,” Lamberti wrote on Dec. 22, 2008, using his office’s official letterhead. “If I may be of any assistance to you whatsoever, either professionally or personally, please feel free to call upon me.”

Rothstein obviously took advantage of Lamberti’s offer. Lt. David Benjamin actually drove Rothstein, who was carrying several million in a duffle bag, to his getaway plane in a BSO Patrol Car. Rothstein fled the country as his Ponzi Scheme collapsed around him. The cops actually drove the perp to the getaway so he could go on the lam!

Al Lamberti

Lamberti’s ties to Rothstein will not be exploited if Hollywood Police Officer Louie Granteed is the Democratic nominee for Sherriff. Broward Democratic Party insiders say that Granteed is a straw-man candidate put up and encouraged by Lamberti.

Granteed also settled a sexual harassment suit from a fellow employee and was formally admonished by his superiors for spending on-duty hours in various strip clubs in Broward County. “Granteed will be poison to women Democratic Primary voters. The guy is a perv” said one longtime female Hollywood Police Officer told the Florida Clarion.

Democrat Scott Israel who also filed in the Democratic Primary for Sherriff is Lamberti’s worst nightmare. Israel can be expected to raise the Rothstein connection as well as a shady deal in which Sherriff Lamberti ignored the state bidding process and awarded a contract for a fleet of new BSO patrol cars to an auto dealer who was a big campaign contributor

Israel will also blister Lamberti for using his position to get his son free access to the Superbowl. “Security passes provided to BSO are for legitimate law enforcement officers doing their duty – not for the Sherriff’s family.” Israel told the Florida Clarion. Voters are tired of elected officials like Lamberti using public office for the fringe benefits. “Its an abuse of authority”.

The Florida Clarion has also learned that key operatives in President Obama’s re-election are sharing lists with Israel’s campaign and that several Obama campaign officials will endorse Scott Israel before the Democratic Primary for Sherriff.

COMING SOON – How many of Sherriff Al Lamberti’s Contributors have contracts of provide services to the Broward County Sherriff’s Office.