‘RHOBH’s Erika Jayne’s Estranged Husband Tom Girardi Declared Competent To Stand Trial For Scamming Clients

Tom Girardi has been declared competent to stand trial by an L.A. federal judge. The estranged husband of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, Erika Jayne, is accused of embezzling millions of dollars from clients.

The 84-year-old disgraced lawyer is facing multiple counts of wire fraud, a crime carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years on each count. In a three-sentence order, U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton wrote that her full order was filed under seal and attorneys have been given five days to identify to the judge which portions of the ruling should remain sealed.

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Girardi was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada alongside his law firm’s accountant Christopher Kamon for “engaging in a widespread scheme to steal from their clients and lie to them to cover up the fraud.”

The scams were the subject of Hulu’s 2021 documentary titled The Housewife and the Hustler.

“They allegedly preyed on the very people who trusted and relied upon them the most—their clients. Actions like the ones alleged in the indictment bring disrepute upon the legal profession and will not be tolerated by my office,” reads the indictment.

The scheme was set to have run between 2010 through 2020 with more than $15 million being pocketed. Girardi was a well-known attorney for his role in the real-life 1980s suit against utility company Pacific Gas & Electric that inspired the Oscar-winning 2000 Julia Roberts film, Erin Brockovich.

CNS contributed to this report.

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