David Lira, son-in-law of disbarred California attorney Tom Girardi, was sentenced to four months in federal prison Monday for his part in misappropriating millions meant for clients. The Chicago federal court also imposed four months of home confinement, 200 hours of community service, and two years of supervised release.
Lira, 65, who formerly worked at Girardi’s law firm, had pleaded guilty in June to a single count of criminal contempt. Prosecutors had sought a three-year prison term, pointing to Lira’s role in diverting more than $3 million intended for families of the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash victims in Indonesia.
Lira’s attorney highlighted his otherwise long-standing career and called for a non-custodial sentence, describing him as “a good man who made a serious mistake.” Despite these arguments, the judge opted for a short prison term paired with community service and home confinement.
The case had originally included Girardi and the firm’s former CFO, Christopher Kamon. Girardi was convicted in Los Angeles on related charges and sentenced to over seven years in prison. Kamon received a 65-month sentence earlier this year.
The Chicago charges against Girardi were dismissed after his California conviction, leaving Lira and Kamon as the remaining figures held accountable in this sprawling fraud case.
