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Tom Girardi, a once-prominent lawyer, has been convicted of embezzling over $15 million from his clients and faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years for each of the four fraud counts he was found guilty on. His sentencing is scheduled for December 6, as announced by the United States Department of Justice.
Girardi, 85, was characterized by U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada as a faux “Champion of Justice,” who used his celebrity façade to commit fraud, supporting an extravagant lifestyle at the expense of those in need. Estrada emphasized the transparency of Girardi’s actions following the verdict, highlighting the betrayal of his clients.
Investigations revealed that Girardi misappropriated millions from his law firm’s funds, allocating money for personal extravagances including expenses for himself and estranged wife Erika Jayne’s company EJ Global. These funds covered private jets, luxury goods, and memberships to upscale clubs.
The legal challenges for Girardi came to light around the time when Erika Jayne, known from “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” filed for divorce in November 2020, ending their 21-year marriage. Shortly thereafter, both were accused of diverting funds designated for the families of plane crash victims, though charges against Jayne were eventually dropped in January 2022.
Despite his legal entanglements, Girardi faced personal and health challenges, having been diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia in March 2021. Following this diagnosis, his brother Robert became his conservator, and Tom moved into a specialized memory care facility in August 2021.
The question of Girardi’s competency to stand trial was confirmed by U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Stanton, who declared him fit for trial in California despite his health issues.