Tom Girardi is facing a hefty sentence after he was found guilty of embezzling more than $15 million from various clients.
According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice released on Tuesday, August 27, Girardi, 85, could be sentenced to a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of the four counts of fraud he was found guilty of. His sentencing hearing is set for December 6.
“Tom Girardi built celebrity status and lured in victims by falsely portraying himself as a ‘Champion of Justice,’” United States Attorney Martin Estrada said in a press release. “In reality, he was a Robin-Hood-in-reverse, stealing from the needy to support of a lavish, Hollywood lifestyle. Today’s verdict shows that the game is up – we can all now see this defendant for what he was and the victims he callously betrayed.”
Per the press release, Girardi diverted millions of dollars from his law firm’s operating account to pay expenses outside of work including his and estranged wife Erika Jayne’s company EJ Global plus funded private jet travel, jewelry, luxury cars, golf and social clubs.
Giardi’s legal woes went public in November 2020 after Jayne, 53, filed for divorce after 21 years of marriage. One month later, the pair were accused of embezzling funds meant for families of plane crash victims. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star was dismissed from the case in January 2022.
More than one year later, Girardi was indicted on the embezzlement case. He was charged with five counts of wire fraud at the time, to which he pleaded not guilty. Jayne, for her part, was not accused of any crimes. Giardi was disbarred by the State of California in 2022.
Before going to trial, Giardi was diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia in March 2021. His brother Robert Girardi became the conservator of his person and estate. Tom subsequently moved into a senior living facility that specializes in memory care in August 2021.
Us Weekly confirmed that U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Stanton ruled that Tom was competent to stand trial in California despite his diagnosis.
