Tom Girard Girardi begins 7-year sentence for funding ‘Real Housewife’ lifestyle with plane crash victims’ money

Former attorney Tom Girardi, 86, has surrendered himself to federal prison to begin his seven-year sentence for fraud. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Girardi turned himself in on Thursday afternoon and is now being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles.

According to Page Six, Girardi was sentenced on June 3, which was also his 86th birthday, to serve seven years and three months in prison. The sentence came after he was found guilty in September 2024 of stealing millions from his clients at his former law firm, Girardi & Keese.

Among his crimes, Girardi stole settlement funds from the families of victims who died in the 2018 Lion Air flight crash. Prosecutors found that he used these stolen funds to support his and his wife Erika Jayne’s expensive lifestyle. The total amount he embezzled from his clients exceeded $15 million.

Judge finds Girardi mentally fit despite claims of dementia

Girardi’s legal team attempted to have him serve his sentence in a long-term care facility instead of prison, citing his supposed late-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia. In March 2021, Dr. Nathan Lavid, a forensic psychiatrist, stated in an affidavit that Girardi was unfit for court proceedings due to memory problems and confusion.

However, these claims were dismissed when a judge ruled in January 2024 that Girardi was mentally fit to stand trial. Along with his prison sentence, he has been ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution to his victims and a $35,000 fine.

The case has gained significant public attention due to Girardi’s connection to ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills‘ star Erika Jayne. Prosecutors found that he used these stolen funds to support his and his wife Erika Jayne’s expensive lifestyle. While Girardi faces serious consequences for his actions, Jayne has been cleared of any wrongdoing and was dismissed from related lawsuits.

Erika Jayne, 54, has since moved on and is currently dating John “Shrek” McPhee, a retired US Army Special Ops agent. Her divorce from Girardi remains unfinalized as the legal proceedings continue. Meanwhile, Girardi has begun his prison term and will spend the next seven years behind bars for his fraudulent activities.