Tom Girardi Found Guilty in $15 Million Fraud Scheme
Tom Girardi, the 85-year-old former lawyer, was found guilty of four counts of wire fraud by a federal jury in Los Angeles. The verdict came on August 27, 2024, after a trial that exposed Girardi’s role in a long-running scheme that defrauded his own clients.
For years, Girardi ran a Ponzi scheme through his law firm, Girardi Keese. He stole over $15 million from settlements meant for clients who had entrusted him with their cases. Victims included a burn victim, a widow, and many others awaiting funds they desperately needed.
Spending Spree and Shifting Blame
What did Girardi do with the stolen millions? Prosecutors revealed that he spent the money on a lavish lifestyle. This included private jets, luxury cars, expensive jewelry, and golf club memberships. He even used the money to fund the entertainment career of his estranged wife, reality TV personality Erika Jayne.
Girardi’s defense team tried to shift the blame to the firm’s former CFO, Chris Kamon, claiming he was responsible for the missing funds. However, prosecutors successfully argued that Girardi was the mastermind behind the entire scheme.
A Fall from Grace
Girardi was once a celebrated lawyer known for winning massive settlements for his clients. His most famous case, a $333 million settlement with Pacific Gas & Electric, even inspired the film Erin Brockovich. But his career crumbled under the weight of his crimes.
Girardi Keese, his once powerful law firm, collapsed and was forced into involuntary bankruptcy in 2020 as the extent of the fraud became clear. Girardi himself was disbarred in 2022 and placed under a conservatorship managed by his brother. His legal troubles are far from over. Despite his age and claims of declining health, Girardi faces another trial in Chicago in 2025. This time, he’s accused of stealing money intended for the families of victims of the 2018 Lion Air plane crash.
