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{{Infobox Person
{{Infobox Person
|name = Craig Rothfeld
|name = Craig Rothfeld
|image = craig-rothfeld.png
|image = Craig_Rothfeld.jpg
|birth_place = New York
|birth_place = New York
|charges = Grand larceny, Securities fraud, Tax fraud, Falsifying FINRA statements
|charges = Grand larceny, Securities fraud, Tax fraud, Falsifying FINRA statements
Line 7: Line 7:
|facility = Rikers Island, NYS DOCCS facilities
|facility = Rikers Island, NYS DOCCS facilities
|status = Released
|status = Released
|occupation = Prison consultant; former broker-dealer executive
|known_for = Founder of Inside Outside Ltd.
}}
}}
'''Craig Rothfeld''' is an American [[Prison_Consultants|prison consultant]] and former securities industry executive who served 18 months in New York State prison for financial crimes.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld">NBC News, "Well-known inmates hire this consultant to help them navigate life behind bars," 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-high-profile-celebrities-diddy-rcna234930.</ref> Rothfeld was the Chief Executive Officer of WJB Capital Group Inc., a New York City-based institutional broker-dealer, before being indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney in February 2014 on charges of grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and falsifying Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulatory financial statements.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb">Bloomberg News, "WJB Capital Executives Charged in Scheme to Prop Up Firm," February 6, 2014, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-06/wjb-capital-executives-charged-in-scheme-to-prop-up-firm-1-.</ref> Following his release in June 2017, Rothfeld founded Inside Outside Ltd., a prison consulting firm that has represented high-profile clients including [[Harvey_Weinstein|Harvey Weinstein]], [[Allen_Weisselberg|Allen Weisselberg]], [[Luigi_Mangione|Luigi Mangione]], [[Keith_Raniere|Keith Raniere]], and rapper Sheff G.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />


== Summary ==
'''Craig Rothfeld''' is an American [[Prison Consultants|prison consultant]] and former securities industry executive. He runs Inside Outside Ltd., a New York firm that prepares defendants for incarceration and advocates for them once they are inside.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld">NBC News, "Well-known inmates hire this consultant to help them navigate life behind bars," 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-high-profile-celebrities-diddy-rcna234930.</ref> Rothfeld did the job from the other side first. He served roughly 18 months in New York State custody for financial crimes before he started advising other white-collar defendants.<ref name="financial-planning">Financial Planning, "A former broker-dealer executive is now Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant," May 28, 2021, https://www.financial-planning.com/news/a-former-broker-dealer-executive-is-now-harvey-weinsteins-prison-consultant.</ref>


Rothfeld worked at prominent financial institutions including Arthur Andersen & Co., Sotheby's, Conectiv, and WJB Capital Group Inc., where he rose to serve as Chief Executive Officer.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />
Before his conviction, Rothfeld was Chief Executive Officer of WJB Capital Group Inc., a New York City institutional broker-dealer. In February 2014 the Manhattan District Attorney indicted him on grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and counts of falsifying Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial statements.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb">Bloomberg News, "WJB Capital Executives Charged in Scheme to Prop Up Firm," February 6, 2014, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-06/wjb-capital-executives-charged-in-scheme-to-prop-up-firm-1-.</ref> He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years in state prison.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> He came home in 2017 and founded Inside Outside Ltd. that June.<ref name="financial-planning" />


His criminal case stemmed from his role in a scheme to defraud investors and prop up the failing broker-dealer firm by misrepresenting its financial condition to regulators and stealing client funds for personal use. Rothfeld now operates one of approximately half a dozen prison consulting firms in the United States, providing advocacy, preparation, and support services to individuals facing incarceration in New York State correctional facilities, Rikers Island, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />
The firm represents high-profile clients. Reporting has tied Rothfeld to [[Harvey Weinstein|Harvey Weinstein]], former Trump Organization CFO [[Allen Weisselberg|Allen Weisselberg]], [[Luigi Mangione|Luigi Mangione]], NXIVM founder [[Keith Raniere|Keith Raniere]], and the rapper Sheff G.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> Inside Outside is one of only about half a dozen prison consulting firms operating in the United States.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />


== Background ==
== Background and Career ==


Rothfeld earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University at Albany, SUNY in 1993.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> He subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business from the New York University Stern School of Business.<ref name="financial-planning">Financial Planning, "A former broker-dealer executive is now Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant," May 28, 2021, https://www.financial-planning.com/news/a-former-broker-dealer-executive-is-now-harvey-weinsteins-prison-consultant.</ref>
Rothfeld earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University at Albany, SUNY, in 1993.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> He later completed a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business at the New York University Stern School of Business.<ref name="financial-planning" />


After beginning his career in accounting at Arthur Andersen & Co., Rothfeld transitioned to the securities industry and eventually became CEO of WJB Capital Group, a New York City-based institutional broker-dealer, in 2008.<ref name="financial-planning" /> According to Rothfeld's own account, the firm appeared to thrive during his tenure, but its success was not what it seemed. WJB Capital halted operations in January 2012 amid slower trading, a shortage of capital, and interest rates of 25 percent on some debts.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> FINRA expelled the company in August 2012 for misstating financial records and permanently barred Rothfeld from working in the securities industry.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb">InvestmentNews, "WJB Capital executives charged in scheme to prop up firm," February 8, 2014, https://www.investmentnews.com/article/20140208/FREE/140209914/wjb-capital-executives-charged-in-scheme-to-prop-up-firm.</ref>
His career started in accounting at Arthur Andersen & Co. He moved into the securities industry from there. By 2008 he was CEO of WJB Capital Group, a New York City institutional broker-dealer.<ref name="financial-planning" /> The firm looked healthy from the outside. It was not. WJB halted operations in January 2012 amid slower trading, a capital shortage, and interest rates as high as 25 percent on some of its debt.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> FINRA expelled the company in August 2012 for misstating its financial records. The regulator also barred Rothfeld from the securities industry for life.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb">InvestmentNews, "WJB Capital executives charged in scheme to prop up firm," February 8, 2014, https://www.investmentnews.com/wjb-capital-executives-charged-in-scheme-to-prop-up-firm-2-56319.</ref>


Following his release from prison, Rothfeld completed additional graduate education, earning a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Post Graduate Certification in Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy from Arizona State University's Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />
After prison, Rothfeld went back to school in the field he now works in. He earned a Master of Arts in criminal justice and a post-graduate certification in criminal sentencing and sentencing advocacy from Arizona State University's Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />


== Indictment and Prosecution ==
== Federal Case ==


On February 6, 2014, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced that Rothfeld and two co-defendants—WJB Capital co-founder Michael N. Romano and former Chief Financial Officer Gregory S. Maleski—had been indicted and arraigned before New York State Supreme Court Justice Larry Stephen.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> The three men were charged with defrauding investors of more than $11 million in an effort to prop up the now-defunct broker-dealer.
The WJB prosecution was a state case, not a federal one. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office brought it in New York State Supreme Court.


=== Criminal Charges ===
=== Indictment ===


Rothfeld was charged with a total of 65 counts, including first-degree grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and falsifying FINRA financial statements.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> Romano was charged with 40 counts and Maleski was charged with 59 counts. All three men pleaded not guilty at their initial arraignment. Justice Stephen set bail at $1 million bond or $500,000 cash for Rothfeld and Romano, and $500,000 bond and $250,000 cash for Maleski.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb" />
On February 6, 2014, the District Attorney announced the indictment of Rothfeld and two co-defendants. They were WJB co-founder Michael N. Romano and former Chief Financial Officer Gregory S. Maleski. All three were arraigned before Justice Larry Stephen.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> Prosecutors said the men had defrauded investors of more than $11 million to keep the failing broker-dealer alive.


=== Fraudulent Scheme ===
Rothfeld faced 65 counts. They included first-degree grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and falsifying FINRA financial statements.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> Romano was charged with 40 counts. Maleski faced 59. The three pleaded not guilty at arraignment. Justice Stephen set bail at a $1 million bond or $500,000 cash for Rothfeld and Romano, and a $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash for Maleski.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb" />


According to the Manhattan District Attorney's indictment, the three men convinced at least 15 clients—including friends and family members—to extend old loans and invest more money with the firm while misrepresenting WJB Capital's financial condition.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> The defendants were accused of embezzling at least $7.1 million from the firm from at least 2008 through 2012.
=== The Scheme ===


Rothfeld and Maleski were specifically charged with filing false reports to FINRA that overstated the firm's net capital position in order to remain in business.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb" /> Rothfeld and Romano were also charged with filing false New York State income tax returns that underreported their incomes by hundreds of thousands of dollars.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" />
The indictment described a plan to prop up a dying firm with investor money. Prosecutors said the men persuaded at least 15 clients, some of them friends and family, to roll over old loans and put in more cash while the firm's true financial condition stayed hidden.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> The defendants were accused of taking at least $7.1 million from the firm between 2008 and 2012.


Prosecutors alleged that Rothfeld used the stolen funds for mortgage payments and improvements on his Manhattan apartment and Hamptons home, as well as private school tuition for his children.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> Romano allegedly spent funds on mortgage payments, luxury cars, and trips to strip clubs, hotels, and country clubs. Both Rothfeld and Romano were accused of using corporate American Express cards for personal expenses and then using company funds to pay those charges.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb" />
Rothfeld and Maleski were charged with filing false reports to FINRA that overstated the firm's net capital so it could keep operating.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb" /> Rothfeld and Romano were also charged with filing false New York State income tax returns that underreported their income by hundreds of thousands of dollars.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" />


=== Statement from District Attorney ===
Prosecutors alleged Rothfeld used stolen funds for mortgage payments and improvements on his Manhattan apartment and a Hamptons home, plus private school tuition for his children.<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" /> Both Rothfeld and Romano were accused of charging personal expenses to corporate American Express cards and paying those bills with company money.<ref name="investmentnews-wjb" />


Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance stated at the time of the indictment: "Another investment fraud has come to light—this time forcing more than 100 employees out of work. Manhattan is the center of the securities industry and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who steal from innocent investors."<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" />
District Attorney Cyrus Vance commented on the case at the time. "Another investment fraud has come to light, this time forcing more than 100 employees out of work," he said. "Manhattan is the center of the securities industry and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who steal from innocent investors."<ref name="bloomberg-wjb" />


== Guilty Plea and Sentencing ==
=== Plea and Sentence ===


In July 2015, Rothfeld pleaded guilty in a plea deal in which he admitted to committing various financial crimes in return for a custodial sentence of 1.5 to 4.5 years in New York State prison.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> Romano also pleaded guilty to various charges including grand larceny, securities fraud, and tax crimes. Both men admitted to stealing approximately $11 million from WJB investors.<ref name="financial-planning" />
In July 2015, Rothfeld pleaded guilty. He admitted to financial crimes in exchange for a custodial sentence of 1.5 to 4.5 years in New York State prison.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> Romano also pleaded guilty. His admissions covered grand larceny, securities fraud, and tax crimes. Both men acknowledged stealing roughly $11 million from WJB investors.<ref name="financial-planning" />


In his plea, Rothfeld acknowledged his guilt and the harm caused. District Attorney Vance noted that victims included "employees of the defendants' own company, and even friends and family members."<ref name="financial-planning" />
District Attorney Vance noted that the victims included "employees of the defendants' own company, and even friends and family members."<ref name="financial-planning" /> In December 2015, both Rothfeld and Romano received sentences of 1.5 to 4.5 years.<ref name="bloomberg-sentencing">Bloomberg Law, "Ex-WJB Capital Heads Get 4-1/2 Years in $11M Scam," December 16, 2015, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/ex-wjb-capital-heads-get-4-1-2-years-in-11m-scam.</ref>


In December 2015, both Rothfeld and Romano were sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years in prison.<ref name="bloomberg-sentencing">Bloomberg Law, "Ex-WJB Capital Heads Get 4-1/2 Years in $11M Scam," December 16, 2015, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/ex-wjb-capital-heads-get-4-1-2-years-in-11m-scam.</ref>
=== Time Served ===


== Prison Experience ==
Rothfeld's sentence opened with five weeks at Rikers Island, New York City's main jail complex. The state then moved him to a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYS DOCCS) facility.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> He served 18 months across several state prisons. He left on a work-release program and finished with a year of parole.<ref name="financial-planning" />


Rothfeld's sentence began with five weeks at Rikers Island, New York City's main jail complex, before he was transferred to a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYS DOCCS) facility.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> He served a total of 18 months in various New York State correctional facilities before being released on a work-release program, followed by a year of parole.<ref name="financial-planning" />
His lawyer gave him a piece of advice early on. Learn the system. Rothfeld did. He read the department's rules and regulations, worked through law school studies, used LexisNexis, and interviewed other inmates about how the place actually ran.<ref name="financial-planning" /> He carried three notebooks of research out of prison. Those notebooks became the spine of his consulting business. The most useful source, he has said, was the other men inside. They knew the unwritten rules.<ref name="financial-planning" />


According to Rothfeld, his attorney advised him to learn as much as he could about the New York State correctional system while incarcerated. Rothfeld researched the department's rules and regulations extensively, read law school studies, accessed LexisNexis, and interviewed fellow inmates about their experiences.<ref name="financial-planning" /> He took three notebooks into prison to document his research, which would later form the foundation of his consulting business.
== Prison Consulting / Inside Outside Ltd. ==


Rothfeld has stated that "the greatest source of information" for his prison consultancy business was other inmates, from whom he learned the unwritten rules and practical realities of navigating the correctional system.<ref name="financial-planning" />
Rothfeld founded Inside Outside Ltd. in June 2017, soon after his release. The firm is based in New York.<ref name="financial-planning" /> It helps clients and their families work through several systems: the New York City Department of Correction at Rikers Island, NYS DOCCS, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and other state systems.<ref name="inside-outside-about">Inside Outside Ltd., "About Us," accessed November 2025, https://insideoutsideltd.com/about-us.</ref>


== Post-Release Career ==
The work runs from indictment through sentencing and into the prison term itself. Inside Outside prepares defendants for what confinement is like, recommends facilities, and advocates on conditions once a client is inside.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />


Soon after his release from prison in June 2017, Rothfeld founded Inside Outside Ltd., a prison consulting and advocacy services firm based in New York.<ref name="financial-planning" /> The company specializes in helping individuals and their families navigate the New York City Department of Correction (Rikers Island), the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and various other state correctional systems,<ref name="inside-outside-about">Inside Outside Ltd., "About Us," accessed November 2025, https://insideoutsideltd.com/about-us.</ref> though he is typically considered a specialist in New York state cases.
=== Clients ===


=== High-Profile Clients ===
Several of the firm's clients have drawn national coverage.


Rothfeld's firm has gained national attention for representing several high-profile clients:
[[Harvey Weinstein|Harvey Weinstein]]: Rothfeld began working with the former film producer before his February 2020 conviction on sexual assault charges. He handled corrections and healthcare matters and worked with Weinstein's legal team on a sentencing memorandum.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> Weinstein's attorney Jennifer Bonjean has described what consultants do in that role, saying they help "resolve a medical concern, assist with a disciplinary issue or to advocate for a placement in a facility."<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> In September 2024, Rothfeld arranged for Weinstein to leave Rikers Island for Bellevue Hospital, where he had emergency heart surgery.<ref name="thr-weinstein">The Hollywood Reporter, "Harvey Weinstein's Life in Prison (Exclusive)," 2025, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/exclusive-harvey-weinstein-life-in-prison-1236196701/.</ref>


* '''Harvey Weinstein''': Rothfeld began working with the former Hollywood producer prior to his conviction on sexual assault charges in February 2020, serving as Weinstein's representative for corrections and healthcare matters.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" /> Rothfeld worked on a sentencing memo with Weinstein's legal team and has continued to advocate for his conditions of confinement. Weinstein's attorney Jennifer Bonjean has stated that prison consultants are important advocates for people entering the system, helping to "resolve a medical concern, assist with a disciplinary issue or to advocate for a placement in a facility."<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />
[[Allen Weisselberg|Allen Weisselberg]]: Rothfeld worked with the former Trump Organization CFO before Weisselberg's January 2023 incarceration at Rikers Island for perjury.<ref name="yahoo-weisselberg">Yahoo News, "Trump executive Weisselberg prepares for jail on Rikers Island," January 10, 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/trump-executive-weisselberg-prepares-jail-110000040.html.</ref> Rothfeld's advice was practical. Stay out of the courtyards because of the risk of violence. Do not insert yourself into other inmates' conversations. "The goal is to keep to yourself," he said.<ref name="yahoo-weisselberg" />


* '''Allen Weisselberg''': Rothfeld worked with the former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer prior to his incarceration at Rikers Island in January 2023 for perjury. The Trump Organization reportedly paid Rothfeld's fees. Rothfeld advised Weisselberg not to go outside at Rikers due to the risk of violence in courtyards and to avoid interjecting himself into conversations between other inmates, noting that "the goal is to keep to yourself."<ref name="yahoo-weisselberg">Yahoo News, "Trump executive Weisselberg prepares for jail on Rikers Island," January 10, 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/trump-executive-weisselberg-prepares-jail-110000040.html.</ref>
[[Luigi Mangione|Luigi Mangione]]: Mangione retained Rothfeld after his December 2024 arrest on charges of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione is held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while he awaits trial on state and federal charges.<ref name="fox-mangione">Fox News, "Luigi Mangione hires Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant Craig Rothfeld," January 29, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/us/luigi-mangione-hires-harvey-weinstein-prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-report.</ref>


* '''Luigi Mangione''': Following his arrest in December 2024 on charges of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Mangione retained Rothfeld as his prison consultant. Mangione is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting trial on federal and state charges.<ref name="fox-mangione">Fox News, "Luigi Mangione hires Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant Craig Rothfeld," January 29, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/us/luigi-mangione-hires-harvey-weinstein-prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-report.</ref>
[[Keith Raniere|Keith Raniere]]: Rothfeld worked with the NXIVM founder, who is serving 120 years in federal prison on sex trafficking and related charges. Rothfeld's effort focused on getting Raniere out of solitary confinement. Raniere had spent 280 days in a Special Housing Unit after an alleged 2022 assault by another inmate. Rothfeld called the conditions a human rights violation and described "feces on the floor and the walls."<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />


* '''Keith Raniere''': Rothfeld worked with the NXIVM cult leader, who was sentenced to 120 years in federal prison in 2020 on sex trafficking and child pornography charges. Rothfeld's work focused on getting Raniere out of solitary confinement after he was allegedly assaulted by another inmate in 2022 and spent 280 days in the Special Housing Unit. Rothfeld described the conditions as a human rights violation, citing "feces on the floor and the walls."<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />
Sheff G: The rapper hired Rothfeld after pleading guilty to attempted murder charges.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />


* '''Sheff G''': The rapper hired Rothfeld after pleading guilty to attempted murder charges.<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />
=== Other Work ===


=== Professional Activities ===
Inside Outside lists a range of legal-system activity beyond direct consulting. By the firm's account, Rothfeld teaches Continuing Legal Education classes for New York bar associations, including the Brooklyn Bar Association, the Kings County Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.<ref name="inside-outside-about" /> The firm states that he is an approved mitigation specialist under New York's 18-B assigned counsel program and that he has served as an expert witness in a dual-jurisdiction death penalty case.<ref name="inside-outside-about" />


Rothfeld teaches Continuing Legal Education classes to various New York State bar associations including the Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA), Kings County Bar Association (KCBA), New York City Bar Association (NYCBA), and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL).<ref name="inside-outside-about" /> He is an approved mitigation specialist under New York's 18-B assigned counsel program and has been retained as an expert witness on a dual-jurisdiction death penalty case.<ref name="inside-outside-about" />
The firm also describes legislative work. It states that Rothfeld lobbied for the Less Is More Act, a New York parole reform measure signed into law in 2021.<ref name="inside-outside-about" /> Inside Outside says he assists defense attorneys in the pre-trial phase as a forensic research analyst and financial consultant.<ref name="inside-outside-about" />


Rothfeld is actively involved in New York State criminal justice legislation and reform efforts. He lobbied for the passage of the Less is More Act, a parole reform measure that was signed into law in 2021.<ref name="inside-outside-about" /> He also assists defense attorneys in the pre-trial phase as a forensic research analyst and forensic financial consultant.<ref name="inside-outside-about" />
=== Stated Approach ===


Rothfeld has appeared extensively in media coverage of his clients, including appearances on NBC News, Fox News, and various other outlets providing commentary on prison conditions and the correctional system.<ref name="inside-outside-tv">Inside Outside Ltd., "TV Interviews," accessed November 2025, https://insideoutsideltd.com/tv.</ref>
Rothfeld has spoken about his own record and how it shapes the work. He has said he made "some horrible choices and horrible decisions," takes "full responsibility," and is "incredibly remorseful for what happened," citing the harm to his family, his employees, and his investors.<ref name="financial-planning" />


== Public Statements ==
He frames the prison environment as a leveler. "Everyone is an equal in prison," he has said. "It doesn't matter where you come from, what your crime of conviction is, how old you are or how intelligent you are. You're all equals."<ref name="financial-planning" /> On the advocacy side, he describes it in rights terms: "I'm advocating for their human rights."<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />
 
Rothfeld has been candid about his criminal history and its role in his current career. Reflecting on his crimes, he has stated that he made "some horrible choices and horrible decisions" and takes "full responsibility" for his choices, accepts the consequences, and "is incredibly remorseful for what happened," expressing regret for the harm caused to his family, employees, and investors.<ref name="financial-planning" />
 
On his philosophy as a prison consultant, Rothfeld has stated: "Everyone is an equal in prison. It doesn't matter where you come from, what your crime of conviction is, how old you are or how intelligent you are. You're all equals."<ref name="financial-planning" />
 
Regarding his advocacy work, Rothfeld has emphasized the human rights dimension: "I'm advocating for their human rights."<ref name="nbcnews-rothfeld" />


== Terminology ==
== Terminology ==


* '''NYS DOCCS''': The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which operates New York's state prison system and supervises individuals on parole and other forms of community supervision.
* '''NYS DOCCS''': The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which runs the state prison system and supervises people on parole.
 
* '''NYC DOC''': The New York City Department of Correction, which operates Rikers Island and other city jails housing individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences of one year or less.
 
* '''FINRA''': The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a non-governmental organization that regulates member brokerage firms and exchange markets in the United States.
 
* '''18-B Panel''': A panel of private attorneys assigned to represent indigent defendants in New York criminal cases, named after Article 18-B of the New York County Law.


* '''Special Housing Unit (SHU)''': A segregated housing area in prisons used for inmates requiring separation from the general population, often for disciplinary reasons or protective custody.
* '''NYC DOC''': The New York City Department of Correction, which runs Rikers Island and other city jails for people awaiting trial or serving sentences of a year or less.


* '''Mitigation Specialist''': A professional who assists defense attorneys in gathering information about a defendant's background, life history, and circumstances to present to the court during sentencing to argue for a reduced sentence.
* '''FINRA''': The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a non-governmental body that regulates member brokerage firms and exchange markets in the United States.


* '''Merit Time''': A New York State program that allows certain inmates to earn a reduction in their minimum sentence by completing approved programs and maintaining good behavior.
* '''18-B Panel''': A panel of private attorneys assigned to represent indigent defendants in New York criminal cases, named for Article 18-B of the New York County Law.


* '''Good Time Credit (GTC)''': Time credited against a prisoner's sentence for good behavior during incarceration, reducing the actual time served.
* '''Special Housing Unit (SHU)''': A segregated housing area used to separate certain inmates from the general population, often for discipline or protective custody.


* '''[[Earned_Time_Credits_Under_the_First_Step_Act|First Step Act Earned Time Credits]] (FTCs/ETCs)''': Credits earned by federal inmates for participating in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs under the [[First_Step_Act:_Overview_and_Implementation|First Step Act]] of 2018, which can result in earlier transfer to supervised release.
* '''Mitigation Specialist''': A professional who gathers a defendant's background and life history for the defense to present at sentencing in support of a reduced sentence.


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Prison_Consultants|Prison Consultants]]
* [[Prison Consultants|Prison Consultants]]
 


== Frequently Asked Questions ==
== Frequently Asked Questions ==
{{FAQSection/Start}}
{{FAQSection/Start}}
{{FAQ|question=Who is Craig Rothfeld?|answer=Craig Rothfeld is a prison consultant and former WJB Capital CEO who served 18 months in New York State prison. He founded Inside Outside Ltd. and has represented Harvey Weinstein, Allen Weisselberg, Luigi Mangione, and other high-profile clients.}}
{{FAQ|question=Who is Craig Rothfeld?|answer=Craig Rothfeld is a prison consultant and former WJB Capital CEO who served 18 months in New York State prison for financial crimes. He founded Inside Outside Ltd. and has worked with high-profile clients including Harvey Weinstein, Allen Weisselberg, Luigi Mangione, and Keith Raniere.}}
{{FAQ|question=What services does Craig Rothfeld provide?|answer=Rothfeld provides prison consulting services including preparation for incarceration, advocacy during confinement, facility recommendations, and guidance on prison policies for New York State, Rikers Island, and federal facilities.}}
{{FAQ|question=What was Craig Rothfeld convicted of?|answer=Rothfeld pleaded guilty to financial crimes tied to his role at WJB Capital Group. The Manhattan District Attorney had indicted him on 65 counts, including first-degree grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and falsifying FINRA statements. He and his co-defendants admitted to stealing roughly $11 million from investors.}}
{{FAQ|question=What was Craig Rothfeld convicted of?|answer=Rothfeld was convicted of grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and falsifying FINRA statements for his role at WJB Capital Group. He and co-defendants defrauded investors of over $11 million.}}
{{FAQ|question=How long was Craig Rothfeld's sentence?|answer=In December 2015, Rothfeld was sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years in New York State prison after pleading guilty in July 2015. He served 18 months and was released in 2017 on a work-release program followed by a year of parole.}}
{{FAQ|question=Where did Craig Rothfeld serve his sentence?|answer=Rothfeld served 5 weeks at Rikers Island before being transferred to NYS DOCCS facilities, serving a total of 18 months before release on a work-release program.}}
{{FAQ|question=Where did Craig Rothfeld serve his sentence?|answer=Rothfeld spent five weeks at Rikers Island before being transferred to New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision facilities, where he served the balance of his 18 months.}}
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Latest revision as of 13:02, 3 June 2026

Craig Rothfeld
Born:
New York
Charges: Grand larceny, Securities fraud, Tax fraud, Falsifying FINRA statements
Sentence: 1.5 to 4.5 years (served 18 months)
Facility: Rikers Island, NYS DOCCS facilities
Status: Released


Craig Rothfeld is an American prison consultant and former securities industry executive. He runs Inside Outside Ltd., a New York firm that prepares defendants for incarceration and advocates for them once they are inside.[1] Rothfeld did the job from the other side first. He served roughly 18 months in New York State custody for financial crimes before he started advising other white-collar defendants.[2]

Before his conviction, Rothfeld was Chief Executive Officer of WJB Capital Group Inc., a New York City institutional broker-dealer. In February 2014 the Manhattan District Attorney indicted him on grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and counts of falsifying Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial statements.[3] He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years in state prison.[1] He came home in 2017 and founded Inside Outside Ltd. that June.[2]

The firm represents high-profile clients. Reporting has tied Rothfeld to Harvey Weinstein, former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, Luigi Mangione, NXIVM founder Keith Raniere, and the rapper Sheff G.[1] Inside Outside is one of only about half a dozen prison consulting firms operating in the United States.[1]

Background and Career

Rothfeld earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University at Albany, SUNY, in 1993.[1] He later completed a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business at the New York University Stern School of Business.[2]

His career started in accounting at Arthur Andersen & Co. He moved into the securities industry from there. By 2008 he was CEO of WJB Capital Group, a New York City institutional broker-dealer.[2] The firm looked healthy from the outside. It was not. WJB halted operations in January 2012 amid slower trading, a capital shortage, and interest rates as high as 25 percent on some of its debt.[3] FINRA expelled the company in August 2012 for misstating its financial records. The regulator also barred Rothfeld from the securities industry for life.[4]

After prison, Rothfeld went back to school in the field he now works in. He earned a Master of Arts in criminal justice and a post-graduate certification in criminal sentencing and sentencing advocacy from Arizona State University's Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.[1]

Federal Case

The WJB prosecution was a state case, not a federal one. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office brought it in New York State Supreme Court.

Indictment

On February 6, 2014, the District Attorney announced the indictment of Rothfeld and two co-defendants. They were WJB co-founder Michael N. Romano and former Chief Financial Officer Gregory S. Maleski. All three were arraigned before Justice Larry Stephen.[3] Prosecutors said the men had defrauded investors of more than $11 million to keep the failing broker-dealer alive.

Rothfeld faced 65 counts. They included first-degree grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and falsifying FINRA financial statements.[3] Romano was charged with 40 counts. Maleski faced 59. The three pleaded not guilty at arraignment. Justice Stephen set bail at a $1 million bond or $500,000 cash for Rothfeld and Romano, and a $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash for Maleski.[4]

The Scheme

The indictment described a plan to prop up a dying firm with investor money. Prosecutors said the men persuaded at least 15 clients, some of them friends and family, to roll over old loans and put in more cash while the firm's true financial condition stayed hidden.[3] The defendants were accused of taking at least $7.1 million from the firm between 2008 and 2012.

Rothfeld and Maleski were charged with filing false reports to FINRA that overstated the firm's net capital so it could keep operating.[4] Rothfeld and Romano were also charged with filing false New York State income tax returns that underreported their income by hundreds of thousands of dollars.[3]

Prosecutors alleged Rothfeld used stolen funds for mortgage payments and improvements on his Manhattan apartment and a Hamptons home, plus private school tuition for his children.[3] Both Rothfeld and Romano were accused of charging personal expenses to corporate American Express cards and paying those bills with company money.[4]

District Attorney Cyrus Vance commented on the case at the time. "Another investment fraud has come to light, this time forcing more than 100 employees out of work," he said. "Manhattan is the center of the securities industry and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who steal from innocent investors."[3]

Plea and Sentence

In July 2015, Rothfeld pleaded guilty. He admitted to financial crimes in exchange for a custodial sentence of 1.5 to 4.5 years in New York State prison.[1] Romano also pleaded guilty. His admissions covered grand larceny, securities fraud, and tax crimes. Both men acknowledged stealing roughly $11 million from WJB investors.[2]

District Attorney Vance noted that the victims included "employees of the defendants' own company, and even friends and family members."[2] In December 2015, both Rothfeld and Romano received sentences of 1.5 to 4.5 years.[5]

Time Served

Rothfeld's sentence opened with five weeks at Rikers Island, New York City's main jail complex. The state then moved him to a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYS DOCCS) facility.[1] He served 18 months across several state prisons. He left on a work-release program and finished with a year of parole.[2]

His lawyer gave him a piece of advice early on. Learn the system. Rothfeld did. He read the department's rules and regulations, worked through law school studies, used LexisNexis, and interviewed other inmates about how the place actually ran.[2] He carried three notebooks of research out of prison. Those notebooks became the spine of his consulting business. The most useful source, he has said, was the other men inside. They knew the unwritten rules.[2]

Prison Consulting / Inside Outside Ltd.

Rothfeld founded Inside Outside Ltd. in June 2017, soon after his release. The firm is based in New York.[2] It helps clients and their families work through several systems: the New York City Department of Correction at Rikers Island, NYS DOCCS, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and other state systems.[6]

The work runs from indictment through sentencing and into the prison term itself. Inside Outside prepares defendants for what confinement is like, recommends facilities, and advocates on conditions once a client is inside.[1]

Clients

Several of the firm's clients have drawn national coverage.

Harvey Weinstein: Rothfeld began working with the former film producer before his February 2020 conviction on sexual assault charges. He handled corrections and healthcare matters and worked with Weinstein's legal team on a sentencing memorandum.[1] Weinstein's attorney Jennifer Bonjean has described what consultants do in that role, saying they help "resolve a medical concern, assist with a disciplinary issue or to advocate for a placement in a facility."[1] In September 2024, Rothfeld arranged for Weinstein to leave Rikers Island for Bellevue Hospital, where he had emergency heart surgery.[7]

Allen Weisselberg: Rothfeld worked with the former Trump Organization CFO before Weisselberg's January 2023 incarceration at Rikers Island for perjury.[8] Rothfeld's advice was practical. Stay out of the courtyards because of the risk of violence. Do not insert yourself into other inmates' conversations. "The goal is to keep to yourself," he said.[8]

Luigi Mangione: Mangione retained Rothfeld after his December 2024 arrest on charges of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione is held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while he awaits trial on state and federal charges.[9]

Keith Raniere: Rothfeld worked with the NXIVM founder, who is serving 120 years in federal prison on sex trafficking and related charges. Rothfeld's effort focused on getting Raniere out of solitary confinement. Raniere had spent 280 days in a Special Housing Unit after an alleged 2022 assault by another inmate. Rothfeld called the conditions a human rights violation and described "feces on the floor and the walls."[1]

Sheff G: The rapper hired Rothfeld after pleading guilty to attempted murder charges.[1]

Other Work

Inside Outside lists a range of legal-system activity beyond direct consulting. By the firm's account, Rothfeld teaches Continuing Legal Education classes for New York bar associations, including the Brooklyn Bar Association, the Kings County Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.[6] The firm states that he is an approved mitigation specialist under New York's 18-B assigned counsel program and that he has served as an expert witness in a dual-jurisdiction death penalty case.[6]

The firm also describes legislative work. It states that Rothfeld lobbied for the Less Is More Act, a New York parole reform measure signed into law in 2021.[6] Inside Outside says he assists defense attorneys in the pre-trial phase as a forensic research analyst and financial consultant.[6]

Stated Approach

Rothfeld has spoken about his own record and how it shapes the work. He has said he made "some horrible choices and horrible decisions," takes "full responsibility," and is "incredibly remorseful for what happened," citing the harm to his family, his employees, and his investors.[2]

He frames the prison environment as a leveler. "Everyone is an equal in prison," he has said. "It doesn't matter where you come from, what your crime of conviction is, how old you are or how intelligent you are. You're all equals."[2] On the advocacy side, he describes it in rights terms: "I'm advocating for their human rights."[1]

Terminology

  • NYS DOCCS: The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which runs the state prison system and supervises people on parole.
  • NYC DOC: The New York City Department of Correction, which runs Rikers Island and other city jails for people awaiting trial or serving sentences of a year or less.
  • FINRA: The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a non-governmental body that regulates member brokerage firms and exchange markets in the United States.
  • 18-B Panel: A panel of private attorneys assigned to represent indigent defendants in New York criminal cases, named for Article 18-B of the New York County Law.
  • Special Housing Unit (SHU): A segregated housing area used to separate certain inmates from the general population, often for discipline or protective custody.
  • Mitigation Specialist: A professional who gathers a defendant's background and life history for the defense to present at sentencing in support of a reduced sentence.

See also

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Craig Rothfeld?

Craig Rothfeld is a prison consultant and former WJB Capital CEO who served 18 months in New York State prison for financial crimes. He founded Inside Outside Ltd. and has worked with high-profile clients including Harvey Weinstein, Allen Weisselberg, Luigi Mangione, and Keith Raniere.


Q: What was Craig Rothfeld convicted of?

Rothfeld pleaded guilty to financial crimes tied to his role at WJB Capital Group. The Manhattan District Attorney had indicted him on 65 counts, including first-degree grand larceny, securities fraud, tax fraud, and falsifying FINRA statements. He and his co-defendants admitted to stealing roughly $11 million from investors.


Q: How long was Craig Rothfeld's sentence?

In December 2015, Rothfeld was sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years in New York State prison after pleading guilty in July 2015. He served 18 months and was released in 2017 on a work-release program followed by a year of parole.


Q: Where did Craig Rothfeld serve his sentence?

Rothfeld spent five weeks at Rikers Island before being transferred to New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision facilities, where he served the balance of his 18 months.


Q: What is Inside Outside Ltd?

Inside Outside Ltd. is Craig Rothfeld's prison consulting firm, founded in June 2017. It helps clients and families navigate the New York City Department of Correction, NYS DOCCS, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and other state systems.


References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 NBC News, "Well-known inmates hire this consultant to help them navigate life behind bars," 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-high-profile-celebrities-diddy-rcna234930.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Financial Planning, "A former broker-dealer executive is now Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant," May 28, 2021, https://www.financial-planning.com/news/a-former-broker-dealer-executive-is-now-harvey-weinsteins-prison-consultant.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Bloomberg News, "WJB Capital Executives Charged in Scheme to Prop Up Firm," February 6, 2014, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-06/wjb-capital-executives-charged-in-scheme-to-prop-up-firm-1-.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 InvestmentNews, "WJB Capital executives charged in scheme to prop up firm," February 8, 2014, https://www.investmentnews.com/wjb-capital-executives-charged-in-scheme-to-prop-up-firm-2-56319.
  5. ↑ Bloomberg Law, "Ex-WJB Capital Heads Get 4-1/2 Years in $11M Scam," December 16, 2015, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/ex-wjb-capital-heads-get-4-1-2-years-in-11m-scam.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Inside Outside Ltd., "About Us," accessed November 2025, https://insideoutsideltd.com/about-us.
  7. ↑ The Hollywood Reporter, "Harvey Weinstein's Life in Prison (Exclusive)," 2025, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/exclusive-harvey-weinstein-life-in-prison-1236196701/.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Yahoo News, "Trump executive Weisselberg prepares for jail on Rikers Island," January 10, 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/trump-executive-weisselberg-prepares-jail-110000040.html.
  9. ↑ Fox News, "Luigi Mangione hires Harvey Weinstein's prison consultant Craig Rothfeld," January 29, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/us/luigi-mangione-hires-harvey-weinstein-prison-consultant-craig-rothfeld-report.


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