St. Patrick Day News & Notes

1. Suspended Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher pleaded guilty today. She'll do about three years in federal prison. (via Miami Herald)


2. "Wachovia Bank charged with violating anti-money laundering law" (via Miami Herald). Wachovia has agreed to pay $160 million in the deferred prosecution agreement:
Federal authorities in Miami have filed criminal charges against Wachovia Bank, alleging it failed to block Mexican currency exchange houses from laundering $110 million in drug proceeds through the bank, officials said Wednesday.
Wachovia Bank, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Co., will avoid criminal prosecution by agreeing to pay a $50 million fine and forfeit the $110 million, officials said.
The bank must also implement stronger anti-money laundering systems.
Prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office, along with officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration, plan to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon on the allegations.
Wachovia, charged with violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, got out of the foreign money-transfer business two years ago.
In a statement published Monday in the Wall Street Journal, Wells Fargo said: ``We look forward to resolving this issue and are committed to maintaining compliant and effective anti-money laundering policies and practices, and a strong compliance and risk management culture across the integrated organization."

One of lawyers representing the bank is Nick Bourtin of Sullivan & Cromwell. Bourtin clerked for Judge Moreno.

3. It's not too late to fill out your brackets! Click here at the free blog pool. The password is sdflablog

Justice O'Connor's reception

Justice O'Connor's reception last night was a success. Lots of judges, lawyers, and law clerks came by to see the legal legend who is in town this week as a visiting judge in the 11th Circuit court of appeals. Here she is with incoming U.S. Attorney Willy Ferrer, Jackie Becerra (Greenberg Traurig), and Bill Roppolo (president of the Federal Bar Association; Baker McKenzie). Willy wore his green tie a day too early! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is in the house

Tonight from 5:30-7:30 at the Federal Courthouse, the Federal Bar Association will be honoring her. Stop by and say hello.

In other news, Scott Rothstein is snitching against mobsters:

Pretending he was being dogged by the FBI and needed help, Rothstein allegedly talked Settineri into tearing up two boxes of documents and laundering $79,000 from Rothstein's massive investment racket, according to sources familiar with the case.
"He knew Settineri,'' a source said. ``He was able to chat up Settineri.''
For helping bring down Settineri, Rothstein could end up in the federal Witness Protection Program -- with a new identity, but inside a prison with special protection. Rothstein, 47, faces up to 100 years at his sentencing May 6.

Jeff Weiner (not Jeff Sloman) represents Settineri. Weiner must be salivating at the chance to cross Rothstein...

March Madness is here

Fill out your brackets here at the free blog pool. The password is sdflablog

And yes judges, you can play too!

Happy Pi day

3.14