Latest news with #RealHousewivesofBeverlyHills'
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Erika Jayne's ex Tom Girardi, 86, sentenced to 7 years in prison for wire fraud
Erika Jayne's estranged husband has finally learned his fate. Tom Girardi, 86, has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for embezzling millions of dollars from his former clients, NBC News reported on Tuesday. The disgraced lawyer was also reportedly ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution to his victims, as well as a $35K fine. Advertisement 9 Erika Jayne's estranged husband, Tom Girardi, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison on Tuesday for embezzling millions of dollars from his former clients. Steve Eichner/NameFace/Sipa USA Girardi's sentencing comes nearly one year after he was found guilty of four counts of wire fraud in a Los Angeles federal court in August 2024. The former powerhouse attorney, who ran the now-closed Girardi Keese law firm, was accused of stealing more than $15 million in settlement funds from his clients from October 2010 to late 2020. Advertisement Several of his victims were the loved ones of those killed in the 2018 Lion Air crash, which claimed the lives of all 189 people onboard. 9 Girardi, 86, leaving court after his sentencing in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Meghann M. Cuniff / BACKGRID 9 A court sketch of the disgraced attorney as he was sentenced in a Los Angeles federal court. Mona Shafer Edwards / BACKGRID 'Girardi sent lulling communications to the defrauded clients that, among other things, falsely denied that the settlement proceeds had been paid and falsely claimed that Girardi Keese could not pay the settlement proceeds to clients until certain purported requirements had been met,' the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a news release upon Girardi's sentencing. Advertisement 'These bogus requirements included addressing supposed tax obligations,' the office continued, 'settling bankruptcy claims, obtaining supposedly necessary authorizations from judges, and satisfying other debts.' Federal prosecutors added that Girardi, whose 1993 groundwater contamination lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. inspired the 2000 film 'Erin Brockovich,' used his celebrity status to steal money from clients. 9 Girardi was also reportedly ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution to his victims. Meghann M. Cuniff / BACKGRID 9 Girardi was convicted of four counts of wire fraud in August 2024. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Advertisement '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,' Bilal Essayli, who serves as the US Attorney for the Central District of California, said. Girardi's sentencing comes weeks after Jayne, who filed for divorce from the former attorney in 2020 after 21 years of marriage, broke her silence on his wire fraud conviction. 'I could have never saw this coming,' the 53-year-old 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star said in March. 'Tom was loved, he was admired, he was accomplished. And this is how his story ended.' 9 Jayne filed for divorce from Girardi in 2020 after 21 years of marriage. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images 9 Girardi arriving for an initial court appearance at the Edward Roybal Federal Court Building in Los Angeles on Feb. 6, 2023. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images 'I don't know that I'll ever get over that,' she added. Jayne was in London when her estranged hubby was sentenced, and she talked about 'picking yourself up after dark times' in an interview with Vogue UK published on Tuesday. 'We all go through things – you have to realize that you're not the only one,' she said. '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.' Advertisement Although the 'RHOBH' star was initially named in an embezzlement lawsuit against Girardi in 2020, she was later dismissed from the complaint in 2022. 9 Jayne, 53, was in London as her estranged husband was sentenced in Los Angeles on Tuesday. theprettymess/Instagram 9 Girardi and Jayne during an episode of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.' Bravo Advertisement Girardi, who allegedly suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was ordered to surrender to federal authorities by July 17. The Post has reached out to Jayne's rep for comment.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tom Girardi sentenced to over 7 years in prison
Disgraced former attorney Tom Girardi has been sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison for stealing millions of dollars from injured clients in a Ponzi scheme. U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Judge Josephine L. Staton handed down the sentencing on Monday. She ordered Girardi to report to prison on July 17 and pay over $2.3 million in restitution and fines. The sentencing came on Girardi's 86th birthday. His attorney was hoping he'd remain at a medical care facility for the rest of his life, due to age-related dementia, but Judge Stanton denied that request. In 2024, a jury found the estranged husband of 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Erika Jayne guilty of defrauding clients and stealing millions of dollars from them. He was disbarred for his actions in 2022. Jayne filed for divorce from Girardi in 2020. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Girardi – disgraced legal titan, former 'Real Housewives' husband – sentenced to 7 years in prison
A judge sentenced disgraced legal titan Tom Girardi, once among the nation's most formidable trial attorneys, to seven years in prison Tuesday for stealing millions of dollars from clients. U.S. District Court Judge Josephine Staton said in handing down the sentence that Girardi had used the settlements of catastrophically injured clients to underwrite a lifestyle of 'private jets and country clubs' for himself and his wife, 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Erika Jayne. 'Mr. Girardi further victimized these people and did so at the lowest point in their lives,' Staton said. Girardi, who turned 86 on Tuesday, was convicted of four counts of wire fraud last year. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years ago, though the level of his impairment is disputed. He stared blankly at the judge as she spoke. Given a chance to address the court, Girardi spoke in a soft, muffled voice, blaming poor accounting and insisting he had not profited personally. 'I think it's clear there was some negligence involved, but everybody got everything they were supposed to get. That's the important thing,' he said. Assistant U.S. Atty. Scott Paetty said the statement was just the most recent in a string of falsehoods from Girardi. 'We are here today because of Tom Girardi's lies,' he said, calling Girardi's handling of client money at the now defunct Girardi Keese law firm a 'textbook Ponzi scheme.' Staton rejected a proposal from Girardi's attorneys that he be allowed to serve any sentence in the locked Alzheimer's care unit at the Seal Beach nursing home where he has lived for several years. 'If he's in prison, he will not understand why,' defense attorney Samuel Cross told the judge, describing Girardi's memory as 'frozen in amber 30 years ago' when he was at the height of his career. Staton said she was not moved by what she called his 'cognitive decline,' saying his advanced age and various maladies actually made his imprisonment less harsh than it might have been when he was at the height of his power. 'This is not a greater punishment because he is old. It is lesser because he gives up less,' the judge said. Girardi is to surrender to prison authorities by July 17. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Tom Girardi – disgraced legal titan, former ‘Real Housewives' husband – sentenced to 7 years in prison
A judge sentenced disgraced legal titan Tom Girardi, once among the nation's most formidable trial attorneys, to seven years in prison Tuesday for stealing millions of dollars from clients. U.S. District Court Judge Josephine Staton said in handing down the sentence that Girardi had used the settlements of catastrophically injured clients to underwrite a lifestyle of 'private jets and country clubs' for himself and his wife, 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Erika Jayne. 'Mr. Girardi further victimized these people and did so at the lowest point in their lives,' Staton said. Girardi, who turned 86 on Tuesday, was convicted of four counts of wire fraud last year. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years ago, though the level of his impairment is disputed. He stared blankly at the judge as she spoke. Given a chance to address the court, Girardi spoke in a soft, muffled voice, blaming poor accounting and insisting he had not profited personally. 'I think it's clear there was some negligence involved, but everybody got everything they were supposed to get. That's the important thing,' he said. Assistant U.S. Atty. Scott Paetty said the statement was just the most recent in a string of falsehoods from Girardi. 'We are here today because of Tom Girardi's lies,' he said, calling Girardi's handling of client money at the now defunct Girardi Keese law firm a 'textbook Ponzi scheme.' Staton rejected a proposal from Girardi's attorneys that he be allowed to serve any sentence in the locked Alzheimer's care unit at the Seal Beach nursing home where he has lived for several years. 'If he's in prison, he will not understand why,' defense attorney Samuel Cross told the judge, describing Girardi's memory as 'frozen in amber 30 years ago' when he was at the height of his career. Staton said she was not moved by what she called his 'cognitive decline,' saying his advanced age and various maladies actually made his imprisonment less harsh than it might have been when he was at the height of his power. 'This is not a greater punishment because he is old. It is lesser because he gives up less,' the judge said. Girardi is to surrender to prison authorities by July 17.
Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Tom Girardi, disgraced legal titan, sentenced to seven years in prison
A judge sentenced disgraced legal titan Tom Girardi, once among the nation's most formidable trial attorneys, to seven years in prison Tuesday for stealing millions of dollars from clients. U.S. District Court Judge Josephine Staton said in handing down the sentence that Girardi has used the settlements of catastrophically injured clients to underwrite a lifestyle of 'private jets and country clubs' for himself and his wife, 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Erika Jayne. 'Mr. Girardi further victimized these people and did so at the lowest point in their lives,' Staton said. Girardi, who turned 86 Tuesday, was convicted of four counts of wire fraud last year. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years ago, though the level of his impairment is disputed. He stared blankly at the judge as she spoke. Given a chance to address the court, Girardi spoke in a soft, muffled voice, blaming poor accounting and insisting he had not profited personally. 'I think it's clear there was some negligence involved, but everybody got everything they were supposed to get. That's the important thing,' he said. Asst. U.S. Atty. Scott Paetty said the statement was just the most recent in a string of falsehoods from Girardi. 'We are here today because of Tom Girardi's lies,' he said, calling Girardi's handling of client money at the now defunct Girardi Keese law firm a 'textbook Ponzi scheme.' Staton rejected a proposal from his attorneys that he be allowed to serve any sentence in the locked Alzheimer's care unit at the Seal Beach nursing home where he has lived for several years. 'If he's in prison, he will not understand why,' defense attorney Samuel Cross told the judge, describing Girardi's memory as 'frozen in amber 30 years ago' when he was at the height of the career. Staton said she was not moved by what she called his 'cognitive decline,' saying his advanced age and various maladies actually made his imprisonment less harsh that it might have been when he was at the height of his power. 'This is not a greater punishment because he is old. It is lesser because he gives up less,' the judge said. Girardi is to surrender to prison authorities by July 17.
