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Add South Florida lawyer Scott Rothstein to the list of fallen con men like Bernie Madoff.

Rothstein will soon plead guilty to building a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme which he used to fund a lavish public lifestyle. The guilty plea is forcing his law firm to file bankruptcy, which will put much of his lavish private life on the auction block.

Much in the style of Madoff, Rothstein created a bogus investment scheme and rubbed shoulders with some of Florida’s most powerful figures, including governor Charlie Crist, to advance his unlawful agenda.

Rothstein operated his scheme using his law firm as a front, and he used the money that he fleeced from investors to purchase a waterfront mansion and an exclusive restaurant.

He led an exuberant lifestyle as a local celebrity. He spent time with politicians and campaigners, and held court at his own restaurant. One now-famous picture features Rothstein blowing out the candles on Governor Crist’s birthday cake.

According to the Miami Herald, Rothstein sold fake legal settlements through his law firm, and collected money from wealthy investors.

Rothstein’s impact spread across the city of Ft. Lauderdale, which was not accustomed to such charismatic high rollers. His impact was distributed all around the community. “His hands were all over the place — he was like an octopus,” Michael Albetta, president of the Dolphin Democrats, a local gay political group, told the Herald. “He affected everyone across the board.”

In addition to his investments, Rothstein and his law firm also contributed more than $7 million to local nonprofits a great deal of money to more than a hundred local nonprofit organizations. Many of these nonprofits already have, or will need to, return the funds to bankruptcy trustees. In a down economy, this is sure to stress much-needed nonprofits even further.

Rothstein’s properties and businesses, based out of Ft. Lauderdale, are now part of his bankruptcy filing, which included the auction where the public had a chance to buy the fruits of his illegal rise to prominence.

The artifacts of Rothstein’s illegitimate rise that were available at auction in Tamarac, Florida, included photos of the admitted criminal with celebrities, designer furniture, luxury items and sports memorabilia.

The aforementioned photo at Crist’s birthday was for sale, as well as pictures of the con man with John McCain and Sarah Palin, and with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. A number of local politicos were in attendance.

In some cases, even people that Rothstein spurned at the height of his wealth and influence had a chance at his things. Among the two hundred or so auction attendees was O.J. Simpson

A vendor sold hot dogs outside of the auction house. The auction generated $200,000 in sales, which will go towards his debts.