Tom Girardi, the estranged husband of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne, has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison by a Los Angeles court. At 86, Girardi was also ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution to victims after being found guilty of stealing millions from clients, including $3 million from relatives of victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash that killed 189 people. A federal jury convicted him on four wire fraud charges following a 13-day trial.
Girardi, a once-prominent attorney known for his involvement in the landmark 1993 groundwater case against Pacific Gas and Electric, used his status to misappropriate funds from clients represented in high-stakes legal battles. Prosecutors revealed that he diverted more than $25 million from his law firm’s accounts to finance lavish expenses for EJ Global, a company linked to Jayne’s entertainment career, including luxury cars and private jets.
Erika Jayne filed for divorce from Girardi in 2020 amidst growing allegations against him and has publicly maintained her ignorance of his fraudulent activities, despite being named in a lawsuit related to the Lion Air case. She was dismissed from this lawsuit in 2022. Girardi’s mental state, including an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, was a point of contention in court, but he was deemed fit to stand trial, living in an assisted care facility during the proceedings.
On the day of Girardi’s sentencing, Jayne was in London preparing for a performance and reflected on resilience in an interview with Vogue U.K., emphasizing the importance of taking small steps to overcome difficulties in life. This story is ongoing, with further developments expected.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
