In a courtroom in South Carolina, disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh faced another sentencing, this time in federal court, for his involvement in a series of financial crimes. The 55-year-old, who is already serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of his wife and son, was handed a 40-year prison term by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel.

Murdaugh was convicted on 22 federal counts, with recommendations from federal agents suggesting a sentence ranging from 17 1/2 to under 22 years. However, Judge Gergel opted for a harsher punishment due to the nature of Murdaugh's crimes, which involved stealing from vulnerable clients, including a quadriplegic crash survivor, an injured state trooper, and a trust fund meant for children whose parents were killed in an accident.

Alongside the federal sentence, Murdaugh had previously pleaded guilty to financial crimes in state court and was ordered to serve 27 years in prison on those charges. The federal sentence will run concurrently with his state prison term, meaning he will likely have to serve the entire 40 years if his murder convictions are overturned on appeal.

During the hearing, Judge Gergel highlighted the impact of Murdaugh's actions on his victims, stating that they had placed their trust and hopes in him, only to be abused and stolen from. The judge expressed difficulty in comprehending Murdaugh's actions, given the vulnerable circumstances of those he victimized.

In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, Murdaugh has been ordered to pay nearly $9 million in restitution. Prosecutors are seeking an even harsher sentence, as they believe Murdaugh has not disclosed the full extent of his criminal activities, specifically regarding the whereabouts of $6 million he stole and the involvement of an unidentified attorney in his schemes.

One of Murdaugh's largest schemes involved redirecting settlement money from the sons of his former housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, following her death. Colluding with a lawyer friend who pleaded guilty, Murdaugh orchestrated a plan to steal $4 million from a wrongful death settlement with the family's insurer. The federal investigation uncovered 11 more victims than initially found in the state investigation, with Murdaugh stealing nearly $1.3 million from them through inflated fees and expenses.

Expressing remorse, Murdaugh apologized to his victims, admitting to feeling guilt, sorrow, shame, embarrassment, and humiliation. He offered to meet with them, allowing them to express their grievances and affirming his sincerity.

Murdaugh attributed his crimes to a nearly two-decade addiction to opioids but Judge Gergel dismissed this explanation, stating that no impaired person could orchestrate such complex fraudulent transactions.

The case of Alex Murdaugh has garnered significant attention, captivating true crime fans and generating discussion on various platforms. The sentencing hearing was not without its own unusual twists, as Murdaugh's defense team revealed that an FBI agent who conducted a polygraph test had asked Murdaugh if he could keep a secret, subsequently revealing that he had examined notorious Dutch killer Joran van der Sloot. Prosecutors argue that this, along with other alleged oddities during the test, contributed to Murdaugh's failure.

Prosecutors are urging the court to keep many of the FBI statements confidential, as they are still conducting an investigation into the missing funds and any potential accomplices in Murdaugh's crimes. The release of such information, they claim, could jeopardize an ongoing grand jury investigation.