Craig Rothfeld is an American accountant, legal advocate and prison consultant to public figures. Rothfeld served 18 months in various New York state prisons after pleading guilty to falsifying business records.
Early life and education
Rothfeld earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University at Albany, SUNY in 1993. He obtained a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business from the New York University Stern School of Business in 1998.
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.
Rothfeld lives in New York City.
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. WJB Capital dissolved in 2011, followed quickly by lawsuits from investors for fraud and breach of contract.
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 sentence of 1.5–4.5 years in New York State prison. 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. Rothfeld and two others defrauded investors out of $11 million in total, using the money to fund personal expenses. Rothfeld's firm was first suspended from FINRA, then barred from the securities industry.
Post-Prison Career
Following his release in June 2017, Rothfeld began working as a prison consultant. Rothfeld has worked with former film producer Harvey Weinstein and former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg. Rothfeld is Weinstein’s representative for corrections and health care matters, including Weinstein's emergency heart surgery and COVID treatment while awaiting trial. Rothfeld advised Weisselberg prior to his incarceration.
In January 2025, it was reported that Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson, retained Rothfeld as his prison consultant. Rothfeld has appeared in court with Mangione, submitting a request for the removal of his shackles and access to "complete discovery" materials.
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.
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