Disbarred Lawyer Tom Girardi Begins 7-Year Prison Sentence for Wire Fraud

Tom Girardi, the disbarred attorney known for his celebrity legal status, has begun serving a seven-year federal prison sentence for wire fraud related to embezzling over $15 million from clients of his former law firm, Girardi Keese. Despite a 2021 diagnosis of dementia, a judge ruled Girardi competent to stand trial, and he was convicted in 2024, also being ordered to pay restitution and fines. Girardi surrendered to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, transitioning from life in an assisted living facility to incarceration, with the Bureau of Prisons currently assessing how to accommodate his worsening dementia, possibly in a specialized unit. His case drew attention for the betrayal of clients, including victims' families from the 2018 Lion Air crash, as prosecutors described him as living a lavish lifestyle funded by stolen money. The prison system faces challenges in managing Girardi's cognitive impairments while ensuring his safety and care during his sentence. Girardi's ex-wife, Erika Jayne, was not charged and has expressed a willingness to assist victims moving forward.