Former celebrity attorney Tom Girardi… once known for his courtroom victories and TV fame… has been sentenced to more than seven years behind bars for masterminding a massive fraud scheme that stole over $15 million from his own clients.
The 86-year-old ex-lawyer, who rose to national fame partly through his appearances on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alongside his estranged wife, singer Erika Jayne, must also pay $2.3 million in restitution and additional fines. He’s been ordered to report to prison on July 17.
Despite his advanced age and claims of dementia, Girardi’s plea to serve his sentence in a medical facility was denied by U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton. The judge emphasized the serious harm Girardi caused to vulnerable clients… many of whom suffered tragic losses or severe injuries.
Girardi was found guilty in August 2024 on four counts of wire fraud for rerouting millions meant for clients into his own pockets. Among the victims: a man whose girlfriend died in a natural gas explosion, leaving him with life-altering injuries and burns. Others included victims of aviation disasters and personal tragedies.
Federal prosecutors say Girardi used stolen funds to bankroll a life of luxury… buying private jets, designer jewelry, and lavish vacations.
“Tom Girardi built a reputation as a champion of the people,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “But in truth, he was the ultimate con artist… a ‘Robin Hood in reverse’ who robbed the vulnerable to fuel his Hollywood lifestyle.”
The downfall began in 2021, when a fellow attorney accused Girardi of misappropriating settlement money from families of victims in the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash, which killed 189 people. That lawsuit opened the floodgates to a series of devastating revelations and federal charges.
Once admired in legal circles and reality TV, Girardi now joins a growing list of disgraced public figures who let power and fame spiral into scandal.
