### Tom Girardi Sentenced to Over Seven Years for Embezzling Millions

Tom Girardi, aged 86 and estranged husband of reality star Erika Jayne, has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for embezzling millions of dollars from his clients. According to an NBC News report, the disgraced lawyer must also pay $2.3 million in restitution and a $35,000 fine.

The sentencing follows Girardi's conviction nearly a year ago, in August 2024, where he was found guilty of four counts of wire fraud in a Los Angeles federal court. Girardi once helmed the now-shuttered law firm Girardi Keese and was found to have stolen over $15 million in settlement funds from clients between October 2010 and late 2020.

Federal prosecutors outlined how Girardi deceived his clients through misleading communications that falsely claimed settlement proceeds hadn't been paid or were delayed due to fabricated obligations like tax issues, bankruptcy claims, and other purported requirements.

Once a celebrated attorney, Girardi’s fall from grace has been significant. He achieved fame with his 1993 groundwater contamination lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., a case that inspired the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich." However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California sharply condemned him as a "thief and a liar" who exploited vulnerable clients for personal gain.

Erika Jayne, who filed for divorce from Girardi in 2020 after 21 years of marriage, recently spoke on the matter. While in London, she addressed the situation in a Vogue UK interview, focusing on resilience during tough times. Jayne was initially implicated in a related embezzlement lawsuit in 2020 but was dismissed from the complaint in 2022.

Girardi, who allegedly suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, has been ordered to surrender to federal authorities by July 17. Further comments from Erika Jayne’s representatives are still awaited.