RHOBH star Erika Jayne’s lawyer ex Tom Girardi found guilty of embezzling $15m from clients in ‘10-year Ponzi scheme’
By Darian Lusk,
2024-08-27
TOM Girardi, estranged husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne, has been found guilty of fraud on Tuesday.
The former high-powered litigator was convicted of running a sweeping 10-year, $15 million Ponzi scheme.
Tom Girardi walking to the United States Courthouse in Los Angeles on August 6 Getty Tom Girardi, second from left, seen looking frail arriving at the courthouse in February 2023 Getty Tom Girardi was found guilty of four counts of wire fraud on Tuesday, August 27 Getty Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Bravo
A jury convicted Tom , 85, the ex of Erika , 53, of four counts of wire fraud.
Prosecutors said he siphoned at least $15 million in settlement funds from four clients.
The charges included stealing from injured clients and spending settlement money on private jets, golf club memberships, jewelry, and the career of his now-estranged wife.
The jury began deliberations on Monday before leaving for the day on the 12th day of trial, and the guilty verdicts were delivered on Tuesday.
Prosecutors alleged the fraud scheme lasted from 2010 to 2020 and involved many more ex-clients than the four listed.
“He wanted the outside world to believe he was fighting for people who couldn’t help themselves,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Moghaddas told the jury Monday in closing arguments.
The attorney said clients expecting settlement funds waited as “days turned into months and months turned into years.”
HIS DEFENSE
Tom suffers from dementia but was deemed able to assist in his defense and even took the stand.
Charles Snyder, a deputy federal public defender, represented the defendant.
He argued to the jury that his client’s cognitive impairment worsened over the years.
Employees of the defendant’s now-closed Girardi Keese law firm were stealing funds “hand over fist,” he argued – shifting the blame.
“Girardi was not paying close attention,” Snyder said.
Last Thursday, Tom was the final witness called by his lawyers to testify.
“Every client got every penny that every client was supposed to get,” he claimed.
The defendant blamed his firm’s former chief accountant, Chris Kamon, for the missing money.
Kamon, 50, is scheduled to stand trial separately in January 2025 on wire fraud charges- he was accused of pocketing even more; about $50 million from Girardi Keese accounts.
Ultimately, Tom was convicted on the charges nonetheless.
FORMER LAW BIG WIG
Tom was once known as a high-profile defender who had various successes with now-infamous Girardi Kleese firm.
He took on major trials, including defending Brian Stowe, a baseball fan who sued the MLB after being attacked in a stadium parking lot.
He also represented plaintiffs in the toxic groundwater case against Pacific Gas & Electric Co., which was adapted into the Oscar-winning 2000 Julia Roberts movie Erin Brockovich.
Erika has not been charged in the case against her ex-husband.
THEIR DIVORCE
Erika filed for divorce from Girardi in 2020 after 21 years of marriage.
Following the split, the couple listed their Pasadena, California home for sale for $13 million.
Erika married Tom in 2000 after six months of dating, and had been together ever since.
It is currently unclear if she will return to the 14th season of the show.
The Bravo spinoff includes Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump, Kim Richards, Taylor Armstrong, Adrienne Maloof, Camille Grammer, Brandi Glanville and Yolanda Hadid.
However, her status as one of the most popular cast members all but assures her return.
Tom Girardi seen walking to the courthouse where he was convicted of federal charges Getty Erika Jayne, seen here posing on Instagram, filed for divorce in 2020 Instagram @theprettymess Erika Jayne posing with the RHOBH cast Tommy Garcia/Bravo
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