In a federal court sentencing on Monday, convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh was handed a 40-year prison term for nearly two dozen financial crimes. This comes 13 months after Murdaugh was found guilty of killing his wife and son. The former attorney had previously pleaded guilty to 22 financial crimes in September, admitting to laundering at least $6 million from clients he represented in court.

During his highly publicized murder trial, Murdaugh attributed his financial troubles to bad land deals and his addiction to opiates, which led to a decade-long cycle of borrowing and spending that left his family in a dire financial situation. Prosecutors revealed that they had identified 25 victims of Murdaugh's financial crimes, with almost half of them opting not to relive the traumatic experience in court.

U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs, in a statement to The Washington Post, described Murdaugh's crimes as "cold, calculated, and brazen" and emphasized the trust his victims had placed in him as their lawyer. Boroughs expressed hope that the 40-year sentence would bring some closure to the victims.

Throughout the trial, Murdaugh's attorneys did not provide any comments to The Post regarding the case. A prominent legal dynasty in South Carolina, three generations of Murdaugh men have served as elected prosecutors in the state's Lowcountry, earning the area the nickname "Murdaugh Country."

Murdaugh's conviction for the murder of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and their son Paul Murdaugh, 22, who were fatally shot on their family's rural Islandton hunting estate known as Moselle, also played a pivotal role in his financial crimes trial. While Murdaugh continues to maintain his innocence in the slayings, his defense attorneys argued that no physical evidence tied him to the shootings.

The case of the Murdaugh family gained widespread attention through news coverage, as well as through a Netflix series and podcasts released in early 2023. The story captivated audiences due to its portrayal of the downfall of a wealthy and powerful Southern family, combined with true-crime elements.

In this trial, Murdaugh faced charges related to stealing settlements intended for clients, including the families of a quadriplegic man and the housekeeper who helped raise his children. Murdaugh signed a plea deal in November that added 27 years to his life sentence, admitting to state financial crimes.

Prosecutors alleged that Murdaugh's crimes spanned from September 2005 to September 2021, during which he intricately manipulated funds through various channels. He diverted settlement funds into his personal bank accounts, wrongfully claimed funds held in the law firm's trust, collected attorney's fees on fake annuities, filed for non-existent expenses, and intercepted insurance proceeds meant for beneficiaries.

Russell Laffitte, a banker who aided Murdaugh in moving the substantial amounts of money, was sentenced in August to seven years in prison on federal fraud charges. Former attorney Cory Fleming, who assisted Murdaugh in defrauding the family of Gloria Satterfield, a long-time housekeeper for the Murdaugh family who passed away in a fall in 2018, received a 46-month federal prison sentence.

Relatives of the victims expressed their anguish and disbelief during the state financial crimes trial. Tony Satterfield, one of Gloria Satterfield's sons, directly addressed Murdaugh, stating, "You lied, you cheated, you stole," while Ginger Hadwin, Gloria's sister, questioned Murdaugh's lack of remorse, asking, "Did you not have a soul?"

Murdaugh's actions have left a lasting impact on the families he victimized, stealing funds that were intended to support them during difficult times. With his sentencing for financial crimes now complete, Murdaugh will face the consequences of his actions as he serves his lengthy prison term.