Latest news with #Staton
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Real Housewives' hubby Girardi sentenced to 7+ years for embezzlement
June 3 (UPI) -- "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills " husband and former attorney Tom Girardi will spend real time in a federal prison for stealing $15 million from his former clients. U.S. District Court for Central California Judge Josephine Staton on Tuesday sentenced Girardi, 86, to seven years and three months in federal prison. Staton also ordered Girardi to pay $2.3 million in restitution and fines and on Monday ruled his dementia won't keep him out of prison. Girardi is the estranged husband of the reality show's Erika Jayne, and a federal jury in August convicted him on four counts of wire fraud for embezzling millions from his clients over 10 years. His victims include relatives of some of the victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash in the Java Sea that killed 189 people. Girardi embezzled $3 million from several surviving family members of the tragedy's victims. Instead of ordering Girardi to stay in a long-term care facility due to his dementia, Staton ordered him to report to prison to start serving his sentence on July 17. Staton presided over a three-hour hearing on Monday, during which two medical experts brought by the prosecution testified about Girardi's medical condition. Two witnesses also testified on Girardi's behalf, and he took the stand to testify in his defense. Girardi's testimony indicated confusion and a lack of awareness regarding his current situation. He told the court he recently traveled the country and has an active case in Oklahoma. Girardi, though, was a resident in an assisted living home in California and kept in its secure memory care area for the past two years. He also underwent psychological evaluation for six weeks in North Carolina at the start of the year. During Monday's hearing, Girardi at times said he has "serious memory loss" when asked about his current situation. Staton ruled that his responses demonstrated Girardi's self-awareness. As Girardi exited the witness stand, his trousers began to drop, but he quickly righted them, which Staton said further demonstrated his mental awareness. His attorneys asked Staton to require him to stay at his current assisted living facility, but she sentenced him to serve his time at an appropriate federal prison facility. Girardi formerly was among attorneys representing victims during the 1993 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. lawsuit that inspired the "Erin Brockovich" film starring Julia Roberts that was released in 2000.
UPI
2 days ago
- Business
- UPI
'Real Housewives' hubby Girardi sentenced to 7+ years for embezzlement
A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced former attorney and "Real Wives of Beverly Hills" husband Tom Girardi to more than seven years in prison for embezzling $15 million from former clients. Photo by Activedia/Pixabay June 3 (UPI) -- "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills " husband and former attorney Tom Girardi will spend real time in a federal prison for stealing $15 million from his former clients. U.S. District Court for Central California Judge Josephine Staton on Tuesday sentenced Girardi, 86, to seven years and three months in federal prison. Staton also ordered Girardi to pay $2.3 million in restitution and fines and on Monday ruled his dementia won't keep him out of prison. Girardi is the estranged husband of the reality show's Erika Jayne, and a federal jury in August convicted him on four counts of wire fraud for embezzling millions from his clients over 10 years. His victims include relatives of some of the victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash in the Java Sea that killed 189 people. Girardi embezzled $3 million from several surviving family members of the tragedy's victims. Instead of ordering Girardi to stay in a long-term care facility due to his dementia, Staton ordered him to report to prison to start serving his sentence on July 17. Staton presided over a three-hour hearing on Monday, during which two medical experts brought by the prosecution testified about Girardi's medical condition. Two witnesses also testified on Girardi's behalf, and he took the stand to testify in his defense. Girardi's testimony indicated confusion and a lack of awareness regarding his current situation. He told the court he recently traveled the country and has an active case in Oklahoma. Girardi, though, was a resident in an assisted living home in California and kept in its secure memory care area for the past two years. He also underwent psychological evaluation for six weeks in North Carolina at the start of the year. During Monday's hearing, Girardi at times said he has "serious memory loss" when asked about his current situation. Staton ruled that his responses demonstrated Girardi's self-awareness. As Girardi exited the witness stand, his trousers began to drop, but he quickly righted them, which Staton said further demonstrated his mental awareness. His attorneys asked Staton to require him to stay at his current assisted living facility, but she sentenced him to serve his time at an appropriate federal prison facility. Girardi formerly was among attorneys representing victims during the 1993 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. lawsuit that inspired the "Erin Brockovich" film starring Julia Roberts that was released in 2000.
Yahoo
2 days 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
2 days 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
2 days 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.
