Federal prosecutors have requested a 14-year prison sentence for disbarred California attorney Tom Girardi, following his conviction for wire fraud in August. Girardi, 85, was found guilty of stealing millions in client settlement funds. Prosecutors argue that despite his age and cognitive impairment, his actions—stealing over $15 million and covering up the theft—demonstrate a deliberate betrayal of those who trusted him in their most vulnerable moments.
Girardi’s defense team, however, is pushing for a different outcome. They argue that due to his severe health issues, including dementia, he should not serve time in a traditional prison but rather in a medical facility where his needs can be properly addressed. They warn that the conditions in a federal prison would likely accelerate his decline.
Once a towering figure in the legal world, Girardi’s fall from grace has been both swift and dramatic. His high-profile career included a pivotal role in the case that inspired the Oscar-winning film Erin Brockovich. The embattled attorney’s personal and professional life has also unraveled amid the charges, further compounded by the scrutiny from his estranged wife, Real Housewives star Erika Jayne Girardi.
Girardi’s sentencing, scheduled for December 20, will determine whether the request for a lengthy prison sentence will stand or if a different approach will be taken in light of his frail condition. This decision may also influence whether federal charges in Chicago, related to another alleged theft of over $3 million, will proceed.
