The investment scam by Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein ``could well exceed $1 billion,'' making it one of the biggest fraud cases in South Florida history, the head of the FBI in Miami said Thursday.

Special Agent in Charge John Gillies declined to say whether other people were involved with the lawyer's Ponzi scheme, but said, ``I do not believe this was a one-man show.''

Gillies, speaking at a press conference, took the unusual step of asking possible Rothstein victims to step forward.

The FBI and IRS are urging investors to call or e-mail with information and verification of business dealings with Rothstein. Agents will then pore over the information and respond first to the biggest victims -- a process that could take weeks, Gillies said.

Asked why the FBI had not yet arrested Rothstein, 47, Gillies responded: ``We are conducting this investigation in a timely manner, but we will not be rushed. We will be thorough, and we are far from over . . . I'd like to let the public know this case is going to take time.''

Adding to the delay: Agents also are investigating other people in Rothstein's inner circle who might have been involved, both in his law practice and at a finance firm in the same Las Olas Boulevard building as the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm.

They include Rothstein's legal and business advisor, David Boden; the law firm's chief financial officer, Irene Stay; the law firm's chief operating officer, Debra Villegas; and Rothstein's uncle, Bill Brock, who went with him on a trip to Morocco in late October when the investment scandal exploded.

Rothstein's investors, law firm and law clients have accused him of ripping them off by selling fabricated employment-discrimination settlements. The IRS is looking at American and foreign bank accounts to determine where Rothstein may have stashed the money he collected, and how it was spent to support his lavish lifestyle.

Jordi Guso, a bankruptcy attorney for the law firm, said in court Thursday that Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler is heading toward bankruptcy as early as Monday.

Rothstein's lawyer, Marc Nurik, declined to discuss the allegations against his client, who is staying at an undisclosed location.

``He is hanging out, had a little lunch with his wife'' Kimberly at Greek Islands Taverna in Oakland Park, Nurik said Thursday. ``This was the first time they went out together in public.''

Rothstein told WSVN-Fox 7 that he ``made a very, very serious mistake'' and has pledged to pay back ``every single penny.'' But he, too, suggested he did not work alone, saying his pledge applied to ``any legitimate person that's owed money. I'm not talking about the people that participated, I'm not talking about the people that knew what was going on.''

Alan Sakowitz, a Broward attorney who met with Rothstein for an investment sales pitch in August, said the lawyer came to the meeting with Richard Pearson of R.L. Pearson and Associates. The company, which is involved in finance and development, shares the law firm building.

A Pearson associate, Nabil Rhazi, was also present. Rhazi had made arrangements for the initial connection. ``They identified themselves as the exclusive agent for Rothstein,'' Sakowitz said.

Boden was also present, he said.

Pearson, Rhazi and Boden did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Other information about the diversion of missing funds also suggests that Rothstein was not acting alone.

Two days after he left the country for Morocco on Oct. 27, his law firm received a $1.4 million wire transfer from two clients of attorneys in the firm's Venezuelan office, according to court records.

Yet a few days later Rothstein's partner, Stuart Rosenfeldt, reported in court that the law firm only had $500,000 in its operating account.

``It took more than Rothstein alone'' to divert the money, said John Genovese, an attorney who filed papers seeking to force the law firm into bankruptcy.

Also Thursday, a new group of investors emerged claiming they were scammed by Rothstein: the Levy family, owners of Sunrise-based Renato Watches, a designer watch company.

Attorney William Salim, who represents the family, including Ovadia and Rachel Levy, said in court that they lost about $15 million to $20 million.

Rothstein also bought into the watch company as a minority shareholder last year, said Daniel Mink, CEO of Renato Watches and brother-in-law of Ovadia Levy.

``We were friends of his in the community,'' Mink said. ``A lot of people were investing with him. It seemed very legitimate. . . . Our family is definitely a victim.''

In court papers filed Monday allowing agents to seize his Fort Lauderdale waterfront home and other properties, prosecutors accused Rothstein of concocting the fraudulent investment scheme, including falsifying legal settlements and bank records to dupe investors, starting in 2005.

Potential victims of Scott Rothstein can contact the FBI by e-mail at rothstein.investment@ic.fbi.gov. Or they can call 800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324).

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