Latest news with #EJGlobal
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The estranged husband of a 'Real Housewives' star was sentenced for embezzling tens of millions from clients of his law firm
A lawyer and estranged husband of a "Real Housewives" star was sentenced on Tuesday for leading a yearslong scheme that involved embezzling tens of millions of dollars in settlement payments from the clients of his law firm. Thomas Girardi, 86, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison and ordered to pay about $2.3 million in restitution and a $35,000 fine by US District Judge Josephine L. Staton. She ordered Girardi to surrender to federal authorities by July 17. Girardi was charged in federal court last year in Chicago with eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of contempt of court for embezzling millions in settlement money. He was found guilty by a jury in August 2024 of four counts of wire fraud. Girardi, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, was a personal injury attorney and ran the now-defunct law firm, Girardi Keese, in Los Angeles. The US Attorney's office for the Central District of California said in a statement that Girardi stole millions of dollars in client settlement funds and failed to make payments to the firm's clients, some of whom had suffered serious injuries in accidents. United States Attorney Bill Essayli said: "This self-proclaimed 'champion of justice' was nothing more than a thief and a liar who conned his vulnerable clients out of millions of dollars." Girardi was known for taking on powerful corporations in high-profile cases. One lawsuit against California's Pacific Gas and Electric utility led to a $333 million settlement and was depicted in the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich" that starred Julia Roberts. The US Attorney's office said one client who suffered severe burns all over his body when a natural gas pipeline exploded in California in 2010 received just $2.5 million of a $53 million settlement. The US Attorney's office said Girardi diverted more than $25 million to cover expenses for EJ Global, his estranged wife Erika Jayne 's performance and entertainment company. Jayne, who appears in Bravo's "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," has denied any involvement and was not charged. Girardi Keese was forced into involuntary bankruptcy in late 2020 and the State Bar of California disbarred Girardi in July 2022. Christopher Kamon, the former head of Girardi Keese's accounting department, was sentenced in April to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud. He was a co-conspirator in facilitating the embezzlement and falsifying financial records and was ordered to repay nearly $9 million.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
RHOBH Star Erika Jayne's Ex Tom Girardi's Prison Sentencing Explained
Wondering what led to former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne's ex Tom Girardi's prison sentence? Once celebrated for his role in the landmark Erin Brockovich case, the high-profile attorney later faced serious allegations of fraud and embezzlement. His dramatic fall from grace has sparked nationwide attention. Here's a breakdown of Girardi's sentencing, the charges he faced, and how his legal empire unraveled. On June 3, 2025, a federal court sentenced 86-year-old disbarred attorney Tom Girardi to seven years and three months in prison. Judge Josephine L. Staton also ordered him to pay $2.3 million in restitution and a $35,000 fine. A jury convicted Girardi in August 2024 on four counts of wire fraud for embezzling millions from client settlements. He must report to federal custody by July 17. From 2010 to 2020, Girardi ran his now-defunct firm, Girardi Keese, and defrauded clients by falsely claiming their settlement funds were delayed due to court or tax obligations, prosecutors said. In one instance, he told a burn victim he had secured $7.25 million when the actual settlement was $53 million (via New York Times.) Prosecutors said Girardi ran his firm like a Ponzi scheme, using client settlement funds to cover business expenses and personal luxuries. He diverted over $25 million to EJ Global, tied to his wife's entertainment career. He also spent client money on private jets, luxury cars, jewelry, and exclusive clubs. Girardi gained national attention for a record 1993 settlement against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., later portrayed in Erin Brockovich. His legal career collapsed under multiple lawsuits and a 2022 disbarment. Erika Jayne filed for divorce in 2020 and was later removed from a lawsuit that accused her of knowing about the fraud. Christopher Kamon, the firm's former CFO, admitted to helping Girardi and received a 10-year prison sentence. He also agreed to plead guilty in a separate Chicago case set for trial on July 14. Authorities dismissed the Chicago charges against Girardi after his California conviction. The post RHOBH Star Erika Jayne's Ex Tom Girardi's Prison Sentencing Explained appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What Happened to RHOBH Star Erika Jayne's Ex Tom Girardi? Prison Sentencing Explained
Wondering what led to former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne's ex Tom Girardi's prison sentence? Once celebrated for his role in the landmark Erin Brockovich case, the high-profile attorney later faced serious allegations of fraud and embezzlement. His dramatic fall from grace has sparked nationwide attention. Here's a breakdown of Girardi's sentencing, the charges he faced, and how his legal empire unraveled. On June 3, 2025, a federal court sentenced 86-year-old disbarred attorney Tom Girardi to seven years and three months in prison. Judge Josephine L. Staton also ordered him to pay $2.3 million in restitution and a $35,000 fine. A jury convicted Girardi in August 2024 on four counts of wire fraud for embezzling millions from client settlements. He must report to federal custody by July 17. From 2010 to 2020, Girardi ran his now-defunct firm, Girardi Keese, and defrauded clients by falsely claiming their settlement funds were delayed due to court or tax obligations, prosecutors said. In one instance, he told a burn victim he had secured $7.25 million when the actual settlement was $53 million (via New York Times.) Prosecutors said Girardi ran his firm like a Ponzi scheme, using client settlement funds to cover business expenses and personal luxuries. He diverted over $25 million to EJ Global, tied to his wife's entertainment career. He also spent client money on private jets, luxury cars, jewelry, and exclusive clubs. Girardi gained national attention for a record 1993 settlement against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., later portrayed in Erin Brockovich. His legal career collapsed under multiple lawsuits and a 2022 disbarment. Erika Jayne filed for divorce in 2020 and was later removed from a lawsuit that accused her of knowing about the fraud. Christopher Kamon, the firm's former CFO, admitted to helping Girardi and received a 10-year prison sentence. He also agreed to plead guilty in a separate Chicago case set for trial on July 14. Authorities dismissed the Chicago charges against Girardi after his California conviction. Originally reported by Vritti Johar on The post What Happened to RHOBH Star Erika Jayne's Ex Tom Girardi? Prison Sentencing Explained appeared first on Mandatory.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tom Girardi Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Embezzling Millions From Clients
Tom Girardi, the estranged husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in federal prison for embezzling 'tens of millions of dollars' of settlement money that belonged to his clients. Girardi was disbarred in California in July 2022. 'This self-proclaimed 'champion of justice' was nothing more than a thief and a liar who conned his vulnerable clients out of the millions of dollars,' said United States Attorney Bill Essayli in a statement. More from Rolling Stone Sean Combs' Accuser Thalia Graves Wins Fight to Dismiss Bodyguard's Defamation Suit Sean Combs Trial: Hotel Security Guard Details Alleged $100,000 Bribe for Cassie Assault Video Haley Joel Osment Ordered to 3 AA Meetings Per Week After Public Intoxication Arrest District Judge Josephine L. Staton also ordered Girardi, 86, to pay a $35,000 fine and $2,310,247 in restitution, and said he must surrender to federal authorities no later than July 17. In August 2024, a jury convicted Girardi on all four counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors said Girardi diverted money from accounts of his now-shuttered law firm Girardi & Keese to pay for private jet travel, luxury cars, jewelry, memberships to exclusive golf and social clubs, and more than $25 million in expenses for Jayne's company EJ Global. Former clients were initially impressed by Girardi's work in helping secure the famed $333 million settlement against Pacific Gas & Electric that inspired in the 2000 movie Erin Brockovich starring Julia Roberts, the Los Angeles Times reported. Prosecutors accused Girardi of operating his firm like a Ponzi-scheme from October 2010 to late 2020 by lying to clients and instructing law firm employees to make incremental payments of newly obtained settlement funds to previously defrauded clients. 'Mr. Girardi, once a self-proclaimed 'legal legend' who purported to fight corporate greed, will now find himself on the opposite end of justice as he serves out his lengthy prison sentence,' Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said in a statement following Girardi's sentencing on Tuesday. 'Years of hard work went into this case by agents and prosecutors motivated to pursue justice for the victims who were betrayed by Girardi after putting their trust in his corrupt law firm in their time of need and while enduring personal hardship.' Best of Rolling Stone Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best The United States of Weed Gaming Levels Up
NBC News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Tom Girardi, former 'Real Housewives' husband, sentenced to 7 years in prison
Former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" husband Tom Girardi has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday. The 86-year-old was also ordered to pay $2 million in restitution to victims. Last year, the 86-year-old disbarred attorney and estranged husband of "RHOBH" star Erika Jayne was found guilty of stealing millions of dollars from former clients for over a decade, including $3 million from relatives of the victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash in the Java Sea, which killed 189 people. A federal jury convicted Girardi on four wire fraud charges after a 13-day trial. Federal prosecutors said that the former high-profile attorney used his status to pilfer money from clients, whom he represented in cases involving severe injuries. Girardi is known for his role in the 1993 groundwater contamination lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The case inspired the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich," which starred Julia Roberts. He also appeared regularly in Bravo reality series "RHOBH" alongside his now-estranged wife, Jayne, one of the show's main stars. Federal prosecutors said Girardi diverted more than $25 million from his law firm's operating account to pay expenses for EJ Global, a company formed for Jayne's entertainment career. The money was spent on luxury cars, private jet travel, jewelry and exclusive clubs, according to prosecutors. Jayne, 53, filed for divorce in 2020 after allegations against Girardi emerged, and has said on the show that the divorce is still in process because of his mental and physical decline. She was named in a lawsuit that alleged she knew about Girardi's embezzlement in the Lion Air case, but has maintained that she had no knowledge of any fraud he committed. Jayne was dismissed from the suit in 2022. Girardi was deemed fit to stand trial early last year despite his lawyers arguing that he has Alzheimer's disease, which they said left him confused and with memory problems. Girardi had been living in an assisted care facility throughout the trial and while awaiting sentencing. Jayne was in London on her estranged husband's sentencing day, preparing for a performance at the city's famed KOKO club. In an interview with Vogue U.K. that was also published Tuesday, Jayne spoke about picking herself up after dark times. "We all go through things — you have to realize that you're not the only one," she told the outlet. "And you have to find the will to take baby steps until you feel more comfortable, and those baby steps might last for a long time."
