‘Real Housewives’ Ex-Husband and Famed Lawyer Tom Girardi Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Fraud Case
Disbarred lawyer Tom Girardi, who was once celebrated for his courtroom victories and larger-than-life persona, was sentenced Tuesday to 87 months in federal prison for orchestrating a decade-long scheme that siphoned tens of millions of dollars from vulnerable clients.
The 86-year-old former attorney from Seal Beach, California, must also pay over $2.3 million in restitution and penalties. He has until July 17 to report to federal authorities.
Girardi, long hailed for his role in landmark toxic tort cases, including the 1993 groundwater contamination lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. that inspired the film “Erin Brockovich,” saw his fall from grace accelerate in recent years as details emerged of what prosecutors labeled an elaborate and predatory fraud.
Once the face of justice for those harmed by powerful corporations, Girardi now stands convicted of four counts of wire fraud stemming from a pattern of embezzlement that spanned from 2010 to 2020. The judgment was handed down by Judge Josephine L. Staton of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
“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 statement following the guilty verdict.
“In reality, he was a Robin-Hood-in-reverse, stealing from the needy to support 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.”
Girardi’s notoriety extended beyond the courtroom. He gained pop culture visibility through his appearances alongside his then-wife, Erika Jayne, on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Behind the scenes, however, prosecutors say his law firm, Girardi Keese, functioned less like a bastion of justice and more like a financial Ponzi scheme “against the injured clients he had a sworn duty to protect.”
According to the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California’s office, Girardi systematically misled clients, many of whom had suffered catastrophic injuries or lost loved ones, about the status and size of their legal settlements. He frequently cited fictitious legal hurdles, including tax issues or court orders, to justify delays in payment, all while diverting funds to support his opulent lifestyle and his wife’s entertainment ventures through a company called EJ Global.
“Girardi sent lulling communications to the defrauded clients that, among other things, falsely denied that the settlement proceeds had been paid and falsely claimed that Girardi Keese could not pay the settlement proceeds to clients until certain purported requirements had been met. These bogus requirements included addressing supposed tax obligations, settling bankruptcy claims, obtaining supposedly necessary authorizations from judges, and satisfying other debts.”
One of the most egregious examples cited involved a client who survived a gas explosion that killed his girlfriend. Girardi told him the settlement was $7.25 million—far from the actual $53 million that had been secured. In another instance, he redirected money owed to the widow of a man who died in a boating accident. Other victims include relatives of those killed in the 2018 Lion Air crash, which killed 189 people.
Joseph Ruigomez, who hired Girardi after suffering burns over 90% of his body in a 2010 gas line explosion, said Girardi was “supposed to be a beacon of hope.” Instead, the case turned into a lengthy “nightmare.”
The justice department described him as a con artist in a tailored suit who “was nothing more than a thief and a liar who conned his vulnerable clients out of millions of dollars.” The stolen money fueled a parade of extravagances: private jets, luxury vehicles, designer jewelry, and memberships at elite clubs. Over $25 million reportedly went to EJ Global alone.
As the fraud unraveled, Girardi’s empire began to collapse. His firm went bankrupt. Most of his assets were frozen. In 2020, Erika Jayne filed for divorce. By 2022, Girardi had been officially disbarred in California.
The fallout extended beyond Girardi. His former law firm’s chief financial officer, Christopher Kazuo Kamon, played a key role in the embezzlement scheme. Kamon, 51, was sentenced earlier this year to over 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud.
The Justice Department revealed he personally stole millions and used the money for his own lavish expenses. Kamon, who was arrested in the Bahamas in 2022, remains in custody and is expected to plead guilty to additional fraud charges in Chicago, with a trial set for July 14.
Meanwhile, a separate fraud case filed against Girardi in Illinois has been dismissed due to his conviction and sentencing in California.
Early last year, Girardi was deemed fit to stand trial, though his lawyers argue that he suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, which has caused memory issues. He has been living in an assisted care facility while legal proceedings are underway.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.