Tom Girardi, the once-prominent attorney and former husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne, has been sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison for embezzling millions of dollars from clients over more than a decade.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton handed down the sentence in Los Angeles, also ordering the 86-year-old disbarred lawyer to pay $2.3 million in restitution and a $35,000 fine. The sentence follows Girardi’s conviction last year on four counts of wire fraud.
Girardi, who once ran the now-defunct Girardi Keese law firm, was found guilty of stealing settlement funds intended for clients—many of whom were dealing with catastrophic losses. Among his victims were family members of those killed in the 2018 Lion Air crash in the Java Sea, which claimed 189 lives.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Girardi misled clients with false communications, claiming that their settlement payouts were delayed due to fabricated legal or financial requirements. These included alleged tax issues, fictitious bankruptcy claims, or supposed court authorizations.
"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," said U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli in a statement.
Federal prosecutors said Girardi exploited his high-profile legal career and public persona to carry out the scheme. He diverted more than $25 million from his law firm’s accounts to fund personal and business expenses for EJ Global, a company formed to support Erika Jayne’s entertainment career. Funds were reportedly used on private jet travel, luxury cars, jewelry, and exclusive club memberships.
A 13-day federal trial in August led to Girardi’s conviction. His former chief financial officer, Christopher Kamon, pleaded guilty to related charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Girardi’s son-in-law and former firm lawyer David Lira is scheduled to face trial next month.
Girardi gained national recognition in the 1990s for his role in a class-action lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., a case that inspired the film Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts.
Jayne filed for divorce in 2020 amid growing scrutiny of Girardi’s legal dealings. While she was named in a lawsuit related to the Lion Air case, she was dismissed from the suit in 2022 and has maintained she had no knowledge of her husband’s alleged misconduct. She is currently performing in London and was not present at the sentencing.
Although his defense team argued Girardi suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, the court found him competent to stand trial. He has been living in an assisted care facility during the legal proceedings and has been ordered to surrender to federal authorities by July 17.
In a recent interview with Vogue U.K., Jayne reflected on the personal challenges stemming from the legal saga. “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,” she said.
Source; NBCNEWS
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