Miles Away... Worlds Apart
Alan Sakowitz, a whistleblower of a Madoff-like Ponzi scheme masterminded by Scott Rothstein, fraudster extraordinaire, tells the story of his decision to turn in Rothstein regardless of the possible dangerous ramifications of such a decision. The saga of Rothstein's rise and fall which included a Warren Yacht, two Bugattis, Governor Crist, the former Versace mansion, The Eagles, and even the murder of a law partner, is the stuff that Hollywood movies are made from.
Instead of the mere accounting of such a scandal, Sakowitz uses the Rothstein scheme as a cautionary tale in stark contrast to the stories of humble, ethical individuals living within Sakowitz's neighborhood in North Miami Beach, Florida. Sakowitz's neighbors are people who have spent their lives trying to assist others, not line their pockets, and through these stories Sakowitz creates a sharp dichotomy between the greed, of a Rothstein and its mainstream culture of consumption and the charity, kindness and selflessness of a principle-oriented community. Indeed, Sakowitz speaks to the symptoms of a culture that could create a Scott Rothstein, and, though acknowledging that the easy way out is not simple to dismiss, offers remedies to the growing ills of our entitlement society. The answer, Sakowitz says, lies in thinking first of others, and how one's actions should benefit the lives of friends, not one's short-term gratifications.
Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e_hylyvCIIThe Story Behind This Book
In Miles Away . . . Worlds Apart, Alan Sakowitz tells the remarkable story of the biggest financial fraud in South Florida history, from the unique perspective of a whistleblower grounded in an ethical tradition. Sakowitz finds inspiration from his close-knit neighborhood to counteract the toxic environment created by the likes of Scott Rothstein, the criminal perpetrator of a massive Ponzi scheme. Using his legal and business expertise, Sakowitz brings us to the actual scene of the crime and explains what transpired in a clear, penetrating way. He peels back the veneer of this complex fraud so that the reader, whether an experienced businessperson or a layperson, can understand and appreciate its magnitude. With passion and wit, he writes with the perfect combination of sensitivity and a hard-hitting, “calling it like he sees it” attitude. Mr. Sakowitz provides solutions for each ill he uncovers, and transmits the information needed for readers to protect themselves from future frauds, dishonesty, and dead ends. In contrasting the false trappings of happiness and power of Scott Rothstein’s world with the actual strength and love experienced by people who live according to moral standards, Sakowitz provides a set of powerful tools for readers as they face their own personal forks in the road.