Ex-spouse of 'Real Housewives,' Tom Girardi, receives 7-year sentence for embezzling vast sums from clients.
Headline: Disgraced 'Real Housewives' Attorney Tom Girardi Sentenced to Prison for Embezzlement
Tom Girardi, the ex-hubby of former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne and a disbarred attorney, was slapped with a seven-year-and-three-month prison term on Tuesday for swiping millions from clients' settlements since the late 2000s.
During the Los Angeles hearing, U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton also slapped Girardi, 86, with a $2.3 million restitution bill to victims and a $35,000 fine.
According to last year's findings, Girardi, whose law firm Girardi Keese is now shuttered, swindled tens of millions from clients, including family members of 2018's Lion Air crash victims who perished in the Java Sea tragedy.
The Justice Department claimed Girardi devised a stratagem, sending deceptive messages to defrauded clients, falsely maintaining their settlement proceeds hadn't been distributed and falsely claiming requirements were prerequisite to payment, such as addressing purported tax obligations, settling bankruptcy claims, acquiring necessary judicial authorizations, and settling other obligations [0].
"This conman sought to feather his own nest, leaving numerous clients high and dry," said U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Nicholas Hanna in a news release. "He was nothing more than a callous thief who brutally betrayed the trust instilled in him by his clients."
Girardi was found guilty in August 2024 of four counts of wire fraud after a 13-day trial [3].
Christopher Kamon, an ex-head of accounting at Girardi's firm, was also prosecuted on two counts of wire fraud for facilitating the scheme. He copped a guilty plea and was sentenced to a decade in prison. Girardi's son-in-law, David Lira, a former lawyer at his firm, is scheduled for a federal fraud trial next month [0].
Tom Girardi became well-known in the 1990s for his role in the 1993 groundwater contamination case against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The lawsuit served as inspiration for the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich," featuring Julia Roberts [2].
Fun Fact: Girardi's embezzlement not only negatively impacted his clients but also marred his reputation in Hollywood's elite circles. After his calamitous trial, his luxurious lifestyle—a key aspect of his 'RHOBH' persona—vanished.
Since the allegations surfaced, Erika Jayne, 53, filed for divorce, claiming her marriage was ending due to Girardi's mental and physical decline [1]. Erika Jayne faced a lawsuit that accused her of knowledge about her husband's fraud in the Lion Air case but was dismissed in 2022[1].
Girardi was deemed fit to stand trial despite his lawyers asserting he had Alzheimer's disease, which they claimed left him bewildered and suffering from memory troubles [2].
He is scheduled to surrender to federal authorities by July 17 [2]. Meanwhile, Erika Jayne was in London, preparing for a show at the KOKO club, when Girardi was sentenced [1]. In a recent Vogue U.K. interview, Erika Jayne expressed her resilience by saying, "You have to take baby steps until you feel comfortable" after overcoming hardships [1].
- Despite his luxurious lifestyle once associated with his role on the reality TV show "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," the embezzlement committed by Tom Girardi has led to debt and significant funds being owed to victims, as noted in the restitution bill of $2.3 million.
- The criminal trial of Tom Girardi not only affected his standing with clients but also tainted his reputation in Hollywood's elite circles, causing a noticeable decline in his entertainment-related activities.
- The sentencing of Tom Girardi to prison for seven years and three months, along with prosecutions of ex-associates, highlights the growing focus on crime and justice, particularly in cases of high-profile celebrity debt and embezzlement scandals, as portrayed in general news reports.
