Craig Rothfeld
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{multiple issues|
{{COI|date=May 2025}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=June 2025}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Craig Rothfeld
| image =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| education = University at Albany, SUNY, New York University Stern School of Business
| occupation = Prison consultant
| years_active = 2014 – present
| known_for = Being prison consultant for public figures
| website = {{URL |https://insideoutsideltd.com/ }}
}}
Craig Rothfeld is an American prison consultant to public figures.{{Cite news |last=Feuer |first=Alan |date=2020-03-04 |title=Harvey Weinstein Adds 'Prison Consultant' to His Entourage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/nyregion/harvey-weinstein-prison-consultant.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200305172637/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/nyregion/harvey-weinstein-prison-consultant.html |archive-date=2020-03-05 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Rothfeld served 18 months in various New York state prisons after pleading guilty to falsifying business records.{{Cite news |last=Vance |first=Cyrus R. |date=2015 |title=2015 Annual Report |url=https://www.manhattanda.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2015-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=13 Mar 2025 |work=Manhattan District Attorney's Office |pages=20–21}}
Early life and education
Rothfeld earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University at Albany, SUNY in 1993.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=Meet Luigi Mangione's high-flying prison consultant Craig Rothfeld |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3294067/who-luigi-mangiones-new-prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-adviser-also-works-harvey-weinstein-and |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} He obtained a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business from the New York University Stern School of Business.{{Cite web |last=Abruzzese |first=Rob |date=2023-10-17 |title=KCCBA hosts seminar on sentencing, featuring expert Craig Rothfeld |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2023/10/17/kccba-hosts-seminar-on-sentencing-featuring-expert-craig-rothfeld/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Brooklyn Eagle |language=en-US}}
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.
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.{{Cite web |title=BrokerCheck - Find a broker, investment or financial advisor |url=https://brokercheck.finra.org/individual/summary/2528055 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=BrokerCheck by FINRA}}{{Cite web |author=Editorial Staff |date=2008-08-11 |title=Floor Brokerages Remake Themselves |url=https://www.tradersmagazine.com/departments/brokerage/floor-brokerages-remake-themselves/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Traders Magazine |language=en-US}} WJB Capital dissolved in 2011, followed quickly by lawsuits from investors for fraud {{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Azam |date=2012-01-03 |title=Unable to Raise Capital, Brokerage Firm Calls It Quits |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/unable-to-raise-capital-small-brokerage-calls-it-quits/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=DealBook |language=en}} and breach of contract.{{Cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=David |date=3 January 2012 |title=WJB Capital Group Sued in New York State for Alleged Fraud |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-01-03/wjb-capital-group-sued-for-alleged-fraud |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250329170443/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-01-03/wjb-capital-group-sued-for-alleged-fraud |archive-date=29 Mar 2025 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |work=Bloomberg News}}
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 custodial sentence of 1.5–4.5 years in New York State prison.{{Cite web |title=Defunct WJB Capital and two execs hid company's financial distress for years, Finra says |url=https://www.investmentnews.com/broker-dealers/defunct-wjb-capital-and-two-execs-hid-companys-financial-distress-for-years-finra-says/46212 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=InvestmentNews |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |author=Editorial Staff |date=2014-02-10 |title=WJB Capital Executives Charged in Plan to Prop Up Brokerage |url=https://www.tradersmagazine.com/departments/brokerage/wjb-capital-executives-charged-in-plan-to-prop-up-brokerage/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Traders Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Freifeld |first=Karen |date=10 Jan 2023 |title=Longtime Trump CFO Weisselberg gets 5 months in jail in tax fraud case |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-executive-weisselberg-prepares-jail-rikers-island-2023-01-10/ |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |work=Reuters}} Rothfeld and two others defrauded investors out of $11 million in total, using the money to fund personal expenses.{{Cite web |last=McKinleyJr |first=William Alden and James C. |date=2014-02-06 |title=Ex-Brokerage Executives Charged With Fraud |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/ex-brokerage-executives-charged-with-fraud/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=DealBook |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=TheBronxDaily |date=2014-02-08 |title=Executives & Majority Owner Of Wall Street Broker-Dealer Indicted For $11 Million Fraud {{!}} The Bronx Daily {{!}} Bronx.com |url=https://bronx.com/executives-majority-owner-of-wall-street-broker-dealer-indicted-for-11-million-fraud/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |language=en-US}} Rothfeld's firm was first suspended from FINRA,{{Cite web |date=June 2012 |title=Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions |url=https://www.finra.org/sites/default/files/DisciplinaryAction/p127040.pdf |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=FINRA}} then barred from the securities industry.{{Cite news |last=Marcinek |first=Laura |date=15 Aug 2012 |title=Finra Expels WJB Capital, Bars Chief for Misstating Records |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-15/finra-expels-wjb-capital-bars-ceo-for-misstating-records |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250313073301/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-15/finra-expels-wjb-capital-bars-ceo-for-misstating-records |archive-date=13 Mar 2025 |access-date=13 Mar 2025 |work=Bloomberg}}
Prison consultant career
Following his release in June 2017, Rothfeld began working as a prison consultant{{Cite web |date=2020-03-19 |title=Harvey Weinstein's 'prison consultant': Ex-broker-dealer executive and ex-con who advocates for inmates |url=https://www.financial-planning.com/news/a-former-broker-dealer-executive-is-now-harvey-weinsteins-prison-consultant |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Financial Planning |language=en}} and often serves as a source of information for media outlets.{{Cite web |last=Ramey |first=James Fanelli and Corinne |title=What’s Next for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs? |url=https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/whats-next-for-sean-diddy-combs-9c047009 |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}
Rothfeld was hired by former film producer Harvey Weinstein,{{Cite web |last=Messina |first=Toni |date=2020-03-09 |title=How Useful Is A Prison Consultant To Harvey Weinstein |url=https://abovethelaw.com/2020/03/how-useful-is-a-prison-consultant-to-harvey-weinstein/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Above the Law |language=en-US}} serving as Weinstein’s representative for corrections and health care matters.{{Cite web |last=Wallace • • |first=Sarah |date=2020-03-05 |title=Harvey Weinstein Hires 'Prison Consultant' to Prep Him for a Life Behind Bars |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/harvey-weinstein-hires-prison-consultant-to-prep-him-for-life-behind-bars/2314347/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=NBC New York |language=en-US}} Rothfeld also worked with former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg{{Cite web |last=Italiano |first=Laura |title=As Trump Org's jail-bound ex-CFO testifies, Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant is watching |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/harvey-weinsteins-prison-coach-watching-the-trump-org-trial-2022-11 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=Longtime Trump CFO Weisselberg gets 5 months in jail in tax fraud case |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-executive-weisselberg-prepares-jail-rikers-island-2023-01-10/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230528053002/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-executive-weisselberg-prepares-jail-rikers-island-2023-01-10/ |archive-date=2023-05-28 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Italiano |first=Laura |title=Trump's top money man, Allen Weisselberg, is braced to hear the door clang shut at NYC's notorious Rikers jail on Tuesday |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-trump-top-money-man-starts-rikers-sentence-tuesday-2023-1 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} prior to his incarceration. Luigi Mangione retained Rothfeld as his prison consultant after he was accused of murdering UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-06 |title=Accused Assassin Of Unitedhealthcare CEO Retains Prison Consultant |url=https://www.inkl.com/news/accused-assassin-of-unitedhealthcare-ceo-retains-prison-consultant |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=inkl |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ruiz |first=Michael |date=2025-01-06 |title=Luigi Mangione hires Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant Craig Rothfeld: report |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/luigi-mangione-hires-harvey-weinstein-prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-report?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Luigi Mangione Enlists Former Inmate and Consultant Craig Rothfeld for Defense Strategy Amid Murder Charges |url=https://hoodline.com/2025/01/luigi-mangione-enlists-former-inmate-and-consultant-craig-rothfeld-for-defense-strategy-amid-murder-charges/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Hoodline |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Silverglate |first=Roberta |date=2025-04-02 |title=What's Next for Luigi Mangione After DOJ Reveals It Seeks Death Penalty |url=https://calbizjournal.com/whats-next-for-luigi-mangione-after-doj-reveals-it-seeks-death-penalty/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403175252/https://calbizjournal.com/whats-next-for-luigi-mangione-after-doj-reveals-it-seeks-death-penalty/ |archive-date=2025-04-03 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=California Business Journal |language=en-US}} Sheff G hired Rothfeld after he plead guilty to attempted murder.{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Richard |date=2025-04-13 |title=RICHARD JOHNSON: Trump giddy over romance between Don Jr.'s ex and Tiger Woods |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/04/13/richard-johnson-trump-giddy-over-romance-between-don-jr-s-ex-and-tiger-woods/ |work=New York Daily News |access-date=2025-04-14}}
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). His courses cover topics such as prison conditions, sentencing advocacy, and inmate rehabilitation programs.{{Cite web |title=OCT 4 SENTENCING CLE |url=https://www.kccba.org/cle-program-materials-library/oct-4-sentencing-cle |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Kings County Criminal Bar Association |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=NY State Sentencing Implications from Rikers to DOCCS Custody and Beyond. Part 3: Administrative Challenges and Remedies |url=https://nysacdl.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1845170 |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers}}