Latest news with #BOP
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tom Girardi Will Get Prison, Says Judge, Despite Dementia Claims
A federal judge in downtown Los Angeles said today that she will sentence disgraced former legal heavyweight Tom Girardi — who was convicted last year of stealing $15 million from injured clients in a long-running Ponzi scheme — to prison rather than a treatment center for his age-related dementia. Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday. During a nearly three-hour hearing, U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton heard testimony from two government medical experts and two defense witnesses. She ultimately determined that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons can adequately house and care for the 85-year-old estranged husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne despite his cognitive impairment. More from Deadline Tom Girardi Found Guilty In Massive Ponzi Scheme; Estranged Husband Of 'Real Housewives' Star Erika Jayne Inspired 'Erin Brockovich' Bravo Teases 'The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills' Season 14 With New Promo BravoCon 2025 Ticket Sales Date Revealed; Andy Cohen To Host & Film 5 'BravoCon Live' Shows From Las Vegas In an unexpected moment, Girardi — who turns 86 on Tuesday — took the stand and exhibited both confusion about the past and awareness of his current surroundings in Los Angeles federal court. Asked by one of his attorneys, Sam Cross, if he had traveled recently, Girardi confidently responded that he had just 'crisscrossed the country,' attending a meeting of the 'National Academy' in New York, with stops in Oklahoma, where he said in had a 'case,' and Buffalo, N.Y. In fact, Girardi has been housed in the secure memory care section of an assisted living facility in Orange County for over two years, except for the six weeks he spent at the beginning of the year being psychologically evaluated at a federal facility in North Carolina. Asked where he lives, the disbarred ex-attorney said 'Pasadena,' and told his attorney that after the hearing concludes, he will go to his law firm Girardi Keese, which closed at least five years ago and is now in bankruptcy proceedings. But questioned about any current problems, he answered, 'serious memory loss.' The judge later seized on that statement as evidence that Girardi retained self-awareness and had not completely lost touch with reality. As he was leaving the witness stand, Girardi's trousers began to fall down, and he quickly pulled them up, which Staton later said was another indication of his awareness that he was in a courtroom and could feel embarrassment. In his argument, Cross asked that the judge leave Girardi in the assisted living facility where he resides, rather than send him to federal prison, where the level of care would not be adequate for his client's needs. 'We believe he is in need of specialized treatment,' Cross told the judge, adding that the defendant is 'frail, elderly' and in danger of being 'exploited or taken advantage of' behind bars. However, Staton said the testimony via video Monday from both a BOP neuropsychologist and a BOP forensic psychologist — along with Girardi's own apparent self-awareness — helped convince her that Girardi can safely be sentenced at a BOP facility. 'He will be designated to an appropriate facility,' the judge said in conclusion. Girardi underwent a six-week psychological evaluation earlier this year at FMC Butner, a federal prison in North Carolina for male inmates who have special health needs, in order to determine his level of cognitive impairment. Prosecutors want Girardi handed a 14-year prison term for his August 2024 convictions for four counts of wire fraud. Once ranked among the most successful and prominent lawyers in the country, Girardi stole millions from clients and spent the money on private jets, golf club memberships, jewelry and the career of his now-estranged wife, federal prosecutors said. His scams, which ran from 2010-20, were the subject of the 2021 Hulu documentary The Housewife and the Hustler. Girardi was a well-known attorney for his role in the real-life 1980s suit against utility company Pacific Gas & Electric that inspired the 2000 film Erin Brockovich. Julia Roberts won a Best Actress Oscar for the role. Jayne filed for divorce in November 2020 after a 21-year marriage. Following the split, the couple listed their Pasadena home for sale at a price of $13 million. Jayne, 51, has not been charged in the case against her husband. After Girardi was disbarred in 2022, the State Bar of California reported it had received over 200 complaints against him alleging he misappropriated settlement money, abandoned clients or committed other serious ethical violations over the course of his four-decade career. His firm Girardi Keese collapsed in late 2020 after Girardi was accused in a lawsuit of embezzling money meant for clients the firm was representing in litigation over an airplane crash in Indonesia. Girardi is in bankruptcy proceedings, as is the now-shuttered Wilshire Boulevard law firm that bore his name and faces more than $500 million in claims. City News Service contributed to this report. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More Everything We Know About 'Happy Gilmore 2' So Far
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Prisoners Set Back By Bureau Of Prisons Home Confinement 'Expansion'
Newly appointed Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall III wrapped himself in the Trump flag by announcing an expansion of use of home confinement to allow prisoners more time in the community at the end of their prison sentence. Unfortunately, for many in prison the actions by the BOP will lead to longer stays in institutions, which is both more costly and a blow to those trying to get home sooner. The BOP issued a press release on May 28, 2025 touting, 'Federal Bureau of Prisons Issues Directive to Expand Home Confinement, Advance First Step Act.' However, a closer look reveals that this move neither expands home confinement nor advances First Step Act. When Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018, advocates, prisoners and criminal justice reform groups all touted it as a major victory. The law was meant to both reduce the sentences for non-violent prisoners, many of whom are first time offenders, by up to a year and also give them the opportunity to serve more of their sentence under strict conditions in the community. However, the BOP has had a difficult time implementing this law under multiple directors since becoming law. It took over three years for the Department of Justice and BOP to finalize the Final Rule for First Step Act. During that time, thousands of inmates stayed in prison hoping they would receive credits to reduce their sentence. From January 2022 until now, the BOP has taken different positions on the law, leading some to get out of prison too late while others enjoyed the additional credits and were released earlier than anticipated. The BOP initially implemented the First Step Act by capping the credits through a rule that stated no credits could be earned within 6 months of release. BOP then issued a memorandum in March 2025 limiting the amount of halfway house placement for federal inmates from 12 months to 2 months, something central to the Second Chance Act, another hallmark piece of criminal justice reform. Both of these actions were rescinded after outcry from advocacy groups. In September 2024, the BOP implemented a new calculator to anticipate the effects of the First Step Act after other iterations of the calculator proved to be an inaccurate tool. The result was a predictive report that every inmate was given that provided them with a projected date for leaving the institution to live in the community and a release date from BOP custody. The reaction to those in custody and their families was immediate joy, however, that was short lived. The reports reflected 'stacking' the practice of showing the inmate both all of their First Step Act credits and the maximum amount of prerelease custody (12 months) under the Second Chance Act. To date, few inmates ever received the full compliments of these credits and the recent memorandum from Director Marshall upends 'Stacking.' Many people want to know what the new memorandum means and the BOP provided a statement clarifying their rule. When asked whether inmates are still eligible for Second Chance Act placement up to 12 months prior to their FSA conditional placement date, as has been the case, the BOP responded, 'Due to statutory restrictions found in 18 U.S.C. 3624(c)(1), an individual who has earned 365 days (12 months) of First Step Act credits to be applied to prerelease custody cannot receive additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act.' The BOP's current stance contradicts its position from just a few months ago, when it stated that stacking First Step Act and Second Chance Act benefits was permissible. Now, without addressing its previous position, the BOP asserts that home confinement under the Second Chance Act is only allowed by law during the final 12 months of a prison sentence. Additionally, the BOP claims that home confinement under the First Step Act can only be applied when the First Step Act time credits earned are equal to the remaining length of the prison term. This means an inmate cannot apply First Step Act credits to home confinement while also receiving up to 12 months of prerelease custody (6 months in a halfway house and 6 months in home confinement) under the Second Chance Act. For many inmates, this change means they will have to remain in prison for up to a year longer than they had initially expected. The BOP's statement went on to say, 'For individuals eligible under the First Step Act (18 U.S.C. § 3624(g)), and who are projected to earn at least 365 days (12 months) of time credits for prerelease custody, referrals should be based on credits and the corresponding First Step Act Conditional Placement Date. There is no restriction concerning how many credits may be applied toward home confinement.' Those who earn a year off of their sentence and another year toward home confinement will not receive any Second Chance Act, meaning they will serve a year in a prison that could have been spent in the community. Former BOP Director Colette Peters (fired on January 20, 2025 by Trump), stated in a congressional hearing last year that capacity at BOP halfway houses was capped out. She stated at the time, "So this [halfway house capacity] is almost as significant of a problem as our recruitment and retention crisis and our infrastructure crisis, because as you're aware ... now under the First Step Act, they could spend months or years, and so that has created a substantial backlog in our residential reentry center.' In December 2018, when the First Step Act was signed into law, the residential reentry centers (or halfway houses) had a capacity of 10,500 beds. At that time, it was understood that the law would increase the number of people placed in prerelease custody. However, as of today, the capacity of halfway houses remains largely the same. As a result, those who are eligible for First Step Act credits, which would allow them to return home sooner, now find themselves competing for limited bed space with individuals who have been incarcerated for decades and rely on halfway house resources to reintegrate into society. The intent of the new memorandum was to redirect individuals who do not require halfway house services to home confinement. However, the outcome may be that fewer people are able to leave prison, and those who could have served part of their sentence in the community will end up remaining in prison for a longer period. In his press release about the expansion of halfway house use, Director Marshall said, 'President Trump said he would fight for the forgotten men and women of this country, and the First Step Act proved he meant it. Now, we are ensuring that this reform continues to work—not just as a policy, but as a promise to Americans seeking redemption and a path forward.' This new directive seems counter to Trump's promise.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Trump's Pardon UNLEASHES Todd Chrisley, Reality Star Caught in Shopping FRENZY
Reality star Todd Chrisley, 56, fresh from a presidential pardon, is back in the spotlight with his daughter Savannah. The duo made headlines during a shopping trip at Nordstrom, where Todd hilariously attempted to evade paparazzi with a paper bag disguise. Recently freed from a tax evasion sentence, Todd expressed gratitude for his release, joking about his 'BOP glow' and skincare plans. Savannah shared their adventure on Instagram, calling out paparazzi and celebrating their escape in true Chrisley fashion.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Civil Rights Groups Say Immigrants Are Being Denied Legal Access at Detention Centers
A group of civil rights and legal organizations say immigrant detainees being held at two federal detention centers are being denied their constitutional right to legal counsel. One of those detention centers is a Miami facility flagged by Reason earlier this week for allegations of overcrowding and dysfunction. In letters to the Trump administration released Thursday, Americans for Immigrant Justice (AIJ), the American Civil Liberties Union, and several other groups urged the administration to immediately restore detainees' access to legal counsel at Federal Correctional Institution Leavenworth (FCI Leavenworth) and Federal Detention Center-Miami (FDC Miami), two Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities that are holding hundreds of detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to the letters, attorneys for AIJ, Florida Legal Services, and the University of Miami Immigration Clinic "have witnessed and documented troubling systemic failures to provide individuals detained in immigration custody with access to vital legal resources and counsel" at FDC Miami. Those deprivations include regular denial of access to legal documents, legal mail, and attorney calls. The groups say these restrictions violate detainees' due process rights under the Fifth Amendment and their First Amendment right to free speech. "Denying detained immigrants access to legal documents, mail, and phone calls makes it all but impossible to fight and win an immigration case," AIJ Executive Director Sui Chung said in a press release. "The systemic denial of due process at FDC-Miami has impacted immigrants who desperately seek refuge and are legally entitled to pursue relief in the United States." The letter echoes descriptions by BOP employees and immigration lawyers of poor conditions and bureaucratic chaos in FDC Miami, where roughly 400 immigrant detainees are being held on two floors. The federal prison system has struggled for years to get a handle on crumbling facilities, understaffing and low morale, and endemic corruption, but it was nevertheless pressed into service to handle the influx of detentions under Trump's mass deportation program. A BOP employee told Reason that four of the eight elevators in the multi-story tower are broken, leading to frequent lockdowns that restrict detainees' access to phones and computers. "I've been at FDC Miami for 16 years," Kenny Castillo, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 501, the union representing Bureau of Prisons employees at the lockup, said. "I've never seen the building like I see it right now." In their letter, the civil rights groups say crucial legal paperwork is going missing when detainees are transferred to and from FDC Miami. Legal mail is delayed or never arrives. They say it takes days, sometimes over a week, for attorneys to schedule a phone call with a client. "These failures and delays have serious—potentially devastating—consequences for detained individuals' ability access and communicate with counsel, as well as their ability to apply for protection in the U.S. and to fight their cases in immigration court, as is their constitutional right." The cumulative effect of all this is that attorneys say it's nearly impossible to plan a legal strategy for their clients. "I had a hearing this morning, and the judge ordered me to speak with [my client]," Katie Blankenship, an attorney at Sanctuary of the South, said. "I couldn't be at FDC, and they wouldn't get me on the phone with him. I had to go to court this morning and be like, 'Sorry judge, no, I did not speak to my client, because I couldn't.'" The dysfunction at FDC Miami erupted into a mini-riot on April 15, after the afternoon headcount dragged on for nearly five hours. A group of disgruntled detainees flooded a floor of the unit, and BOP correctional officers responded with concussive flashbang grenades. The civil rights groups allege similar conditions at FCI Leavenworth in Kansas, where they say immigrant detainees are subjected to lengthy lockdowns, abusive use-of-force, and medical neglect. In response to a request for comment, a BOP spokesperson said the agency is "committed to ensuring the safety and security of all inmates in our population, our staff, and the public. However, we do not comment on matters related to pending litigation, legal proceedings, or investigations." ICE did not respond to a request for comment. The post Civil Rights Groups Say Immigrants Are Being Denied Legal Access at Detention Centers appeared first on
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Firm behind wireless alert buzzer for seniors wins DBS award; device coming to more rental flats
The button lets seniors – particularly those living alone or without family support – reach emergency services with a single press. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Firm behind wireless alert buzzer for seniors wins DBS award; device coming to more rental flats SINGAPORE – A local firm has clinched a contract potentially worth more than $50 million to extend its emergency buzzer system for seniors to 170 additional rental blocks over the next five years, after a successful pilot since 2019. The wall-mounted, wireless red button lets seniors – particularly those living alone or without family support – reach emergency services with a single push. The expanded roll-out is part of a second contract awarded to Singapore-based tech firm iWow Technology in early 2025 by the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) to procure wireless alert devices for more seniors in Housing Board rental flats over the next five years. The devices are developed by Buddy of Parents (BOP) – a subsidiary company of iWow – which on May 29 received a $1 million grant under DBS Foundation's Impact Beyond Award for its efforts to support seniors and caregivers through smart technology. The award will support the development of new products and the firm's outreach to vulnerable seniors and international growth, said BOP executive director Chen Jer Yaw. Mr Chen said: 'As part of the grant, there are milestones that we will have to hit, such as the number of people (who will benefit from) our products and services... We are committed to fulfilling these milestones and to support more seniors.' The company will focus on the distribution of emergency buzzers for HDB, which is expanding its initiative to provide wireless alert devices to seniors. Some 36,800 seniors aged 60 and above are expected to have the devices installed for free by 2030, according to a spokesperson in a joint statement by HDB and GovTech. As at February, at least 10,000 seniors living in 50 public rental blocks have had the wireless devices installed, the spokesperson added. Seniors with older models will soon receive a new device, which has improved durability and performance. Each BOP button is connected to a 24-hour hotline, giving vulnerable seniors, especially those who live alone or lack family support, a way to seek help in life-and-death situations. (From left) BOP executive director and iWow senior vice-president Chen Jer Yaw, iWow CEO and executive director Raymond Bo and iWow chief marketing officer Ashokan Ramakrishnan with the new wireless alarm system for seniors. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH The alert alarm devices have been triggered around 20,200 times since the system's roll-out to rental flats in November 2019, according to HDB and GovTech. Roughly 1,600 required emergency help, while the rest were non-urgent calls or accidental presses , they said . The button is an upgrade of an older pull-cord system, which seniors use to activate an alarm at their block's void deck to alert people in the vicinity or an active ageing centre during working hours. The new devices come with better batteries that exceed five years, and two-way voice calling for users to speak to operators over the phone. They are also resistant to water and dust – a requirement under GovTech's tender – so the devices can be placed reliably in bathrooms, where the risk of falls is higher. Announced by iWow in February, the contract with GovTech includes the option to purchase its fall detector module and portable alert device over the next 10 years. BOP's catalogue of devices includes a wall-mounted infrared scanner with image-recognition software to tell when someone has fallen and is in need of assistance. The DBS Foundation also gave the Impact Beyond Award to three other businesses, which are tackling urgent needs among ageing residents, from nearly 100 submissions worldwide. One of them is Hong Kong's Evercare Health – a health tech platform which developed a mobile app for patients and caregivers to schedule appointments, contact staff members and make payment. The award will support the firm's development of artificial intelligence-powered medical notes to improve the efficiency of healthcare services. Another award recipient is India's Life Circle Health Services, which operates a mobile app that connects families with trained caregivers based on their needs. DBS has disbursed $21.5 million in grant funding to more than 160 social enterprises and recipients since 2015. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
