Latest news with #ErikaJayne
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Erika Jayne Left 'Emotionally Destroyed' After Estranged Husband's 7-Year Prison Sentence For Wire Fraud
Erika Jayne has reportedly been hit hard by her estranged husband Tom Girardi's wire fraud scandal. According to reports, seeing someone she "loved and trusted" accused of such crimes has left her "emotionally destroyed." The former attorney was sentenced to over seven years in prison for his crimes, despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in March 2021. Tom Gerardi and Erika Jayne remain legally married, although the reality star filed for divorce in November 2020 after 21 years of marriage. After being found guilty of four counts of wire fraud in August 2024, it was only a matter of time before disgraced attorney Tom Girardi was sentenced for his crimes. That sentence was recently handed down, consisting of 87 months in prison and an order to pay a $35,000 fine, along with $2,310,247 in restitution. In the wake of the sentencing, an attorney representing Girardi's estranged wife, Erika Jayne, has revealed how the reality star feels about the situation. "Erika spent many years with Tom; she is experiencing a wave of emotions," said the attorney, Jim Wilkes, about his client, per The U.S. Sun. "I'm sure she's emotionally destroyed, but there's a part of her that's shut off and compartmentalized." He added, "If someone you loved and trusted, and everyone else told you to trust, broke every bit of trust you had in them and didn't even tell you, covered it up, how would you feel?" Amid Girardi's legal troubles, he was diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's in 2021. His health struggles later led to him being placed under a conservatorship by his younger brother, Robert, that same year. At the time the illness became known, some of Girardi's victims doubted its legitimacy, even going so far as to file a motion opposing the conservatorship appointment. Ultimately, Girardi was found competent to stand trial, but doubts still remained about whether he is genuinely ill. Now, Wilkes, Jayne's lawyer, who had a professional relationship with Girardi prior to his arrest, says he believes Girardi is genuinely suffering from dementia. However, he is also of the opinion that the octogenarian deserves to be held accountable for his actions. "He's been charged and sentenced to prison, that's what happens to people who do this," he said. "Am I happy about it? No. I'm not happy to see anyone suffer." "But Tom was a prominent figure, and he did some stupid stuff; he deserves to be punished for what he did," the lawyer added. "You have to deal with the consequences, the system is not perfect, but I'm sure he'll be in minimum security as he's no threat, but prison is still prison." The four wire fraud charges against Girardi stem from accusations that he allegedly embezzled settlement proceeds meant for the surviving family members of those who lost their lives in the tragic crash of Lion Air Flight 610. At the time the claim was filed, it was stated that the former personal injury attorney had lavishly spent the money to fund his and his estranged wife Jayne's Beverly Hills lifestyle. The amount in question was believed to be at least $15 million in settlement funds from four clients. Now that he has been sentenced, Girardi is required to surrender to federal authorities on or before July 17, as stated in the judge's ruling. However, it remains unclear where he will serve his sentence, although the judge ruled it will be in a federal prison. After Girardi was found guilty of the wire fraud charges, prosecuting attorney Bill Essayli ripped into him in a statement to the press. "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," he said, adding that he intends to prosecute dubious lawyers like Girardi and their cronies. Meanwhile, IRS special agent Tyler Hatcher, who assisted with the investigation, claimed the jury's decision will serve as a salve for victims of the disgraced lawyer. "This sentencing brings a level of recompense for countless victims of Mr. Girardi's long-running scheme to enrich himself on the backs of clients who trusted him in some of their worst days," he said, per The U.S. Sun. Hatcher added, "This sentencing [also] demonstrates criminals cannot evade the unrivaled acumen of IRS-CI special agents in following the money, as well as the effectiveness of our partnerships with fellow law enforcement organizations like the FBI."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The estranged husband of a 'Real Housewives' star was sentenced for embezzling tens of millions from clients of his law firm
Tom Girardi was sentenced on Tuesday to more than seven years in prison for embezzling millions from clients. He was found guilty by a jury of four counts of wire fraud last year. Girardi diverted more than $25 million to his wife Erika Jayne's entertainment company, the US Attorney's office said 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. Read the original article on Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
Tom Girardi sentenced to over 7 years for embezzlement
Former attorney Tom Girardi, the ex-husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne, has been sentenced to 87 months in prison for embezzling millions from clients. June 4, 2025
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Disbarred lawyer Tom Girardi sentenced to seven years for embezzlement
A federal judge sentenced disbarred celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi to seven years and three months in prison on Tuesday for embezzling tens of millions of dollars from his clients, including several with severe physical injuries and families of people killed in accidents. US district judge Josephine L Staton also ordered Girardi, 86, to pay a $35,000 fine and $2.3m in restitution to former clients. A jury in August found him guilty of four counts of wire fraud, and he could have been sentenced to up to 80 years in prison. Girardi is the estranged husband of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne and appeared on the show himself dozens of times between 2015 and 2020. He was once among the most prominent lawyers in the nation, often representing victims of major disasters against powerful companies. One lawsuit against California's Pacific Gas and Electric utility led to a $333m settlement and was portrayed in the 2000 Julia Roberts film Erin Brockovich. But his law empire collapsed, and he was disbarred in California in 2022 over client thefts. Girardi has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and issues with his memory led another court to put him in a conservatorship under his brother. But on Monday, Staton ruled that he was mentally competent to be sentenced, just as she had previously found him mentally competent to stand trial. The judge had allowed him to remain free until his sentencing but ordered him to surrender to authorities by 17 July. An email to Girardi's attorney seeking comment on the conviction was not immediately answered. Former clients who testified against Girardi at his trial included an Arizona woman whose husband was killed in a boat accident and victims who were burned in a 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, south of San Francisco. Prosecutors played jurors voicemails in which Girardi gave a litany of false reasons money that a court had awarded could not be paid, including tax and debt obligations and judge authorizations. He frequently told them: 'Don't be mad at me.'
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.
