Latest news with #Girardi&Keese
Yahoo
7 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
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'RHOBH' Erika Jayne's Ex-Husband Tom Girardi Bags 7 Years In Jail For 2024 Guilty Verdict
Tom Girardi, the estranged husband of Erika Jayne, has finally been sentenced for his involvement in an embezzlement scheme. The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star's former beau got the full weight of justice's hammer despite his age and health problems. He was sentenced in a Los Angeles court nearly a year after his guilty verdict. Although Tom Girardi's crimes occurred during his marriage to Erika Jayne, the Bravolebrity escaped the legal drama after initially being named in a lawsuit. The victims of her estranged husband's fraud suspected she was involved in the get-rich scheme, but they eventually dropped their case against her. Girardi may never see the light beyond his prison walls again after bagging seven years in federal prison for his crimes. At 86, that means he may spend the rest of his life behind bars, but the court believes this is a fair price to pay given his years-long embezzlement. U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton did not stop at the 7-year punishment, slamming Girardi with a $35,000 fine and ordering him to pay over $2.3 million in restitution. The former attorney and co-founder of the now-defunct Girardi & Keese was found guilty of stealing from his clients. Prosecutors accused him of embezzling $15 million from his clients over a decade-long period, including the $3 million settlement cash linked to the 2018 Lion Air crash. Additionally, TMZ noted he was slammed for stealing up to $25 million from his law firm to fund Jayne's career in the entertainment industry. During his trial, Girardi maintained his innocence and blamed the missing funds on his former chief financial officer, Christopher Kamon. However, the latter pleaded guilty to only participating in the crime and did not label himself the mastermind. Kamon acknowledged his faults, accepting the guilty verdict for two counts of wire fraud in 2024. He received a 121-month sentence in federal prison for his involvement in the embezzlement scheme. Unlike Kamon, Girardi initially attempted to escape trial using his failing health The Blast covered the story, reporting that the former attorney's legal rep argued that the embezzlement happened amid his battle with dementia. The lawyer stressed that Girardi was innocent as he was ignorant of the crime given his mental state, but the court ruled otherwise. Contrary to Girardi's expectations, he was deemed medically fit to stand trial despite his failing health plea. He attempted to sway the jury during his testimony, claiming that "every client got every penny that every client was supposed to get." Unfortunately, his words did not move them, and he was found guilty of embezzling more than $15 million from former clients. The charges against him first surfaced in December 2020, a month after his then-wife Jayne filed to end their marriage after 21 years. It appeared she was cutting Girardi loose before his legal troubles began, but her actions did not stop victims from naming her in a lawsuit. The allegations implied she knew of her partner's embezzlement; however, she escaped prosecution as her involvement could not be proven. Last November, Jayne addressed the end of her marriage to Girardi in a candid interview with Bravo producer Alex Baskin. During her appearance on the network's "Hot Mic" podcast, she got emotional while recalling the highs and lows of her relationship. According to Jayne, despite her then-husband's faults, he always wished for her success. She noted it was Girardi who encouraged her to become a Housewife, claiming, "Tom told me, and I quote, 'They're doing more for you than you could ever do for them, sign it and return it.'" Although he was always supportive, things changed when Girardi "was on the decline." Jayne recalled his personality did a complete 180, and his focus went from being her biggest fan to almost resenting her. Eventually, they couldn't stop fighting, and she pulled the plug on their marriage. Jayne first met Girardi while working as a cocktail waitress at Beverly Hills' famous restaurant, Chasens. As a single mom, she was moved by the former attorney's kindness, describing him as "a good customer" and "a good tipper." The pair started off platonic for over a year before their relationship turned romantic after a minor hiccup. Jayne recalled giving Girardi her number around Christmas time one year, but he asked his secretary to schedule a dinner date on his behalf to her distaste. The TV personality claimed she turned down the dinner offer, allegedly telling the secretary: "If Mr. Girardi wants to take me out, he can call me in advance himself." Jayne noted he accepted her demands about a week later when he walked into the restaurant to ask her out on a date and the rest is history. How will Erika Jayne react to Tom Girardi's 7-year prison sentence?
