CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced June 3 that disbarred California personal injury attorney Thomas Vincent Girardi was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison.
Girardi, 86, was found guilty in August 2024 of embezzling $15 million from four clients of his defunct law firm, Girardi Keese, including money owed to severely injured clients.
United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton sentenced Girardi and also ordered him to pay a $35,000 fine and $2.3 million in restitution.
Girardi is to surrender to federal authorities no later than July 17.
Girardi ran law firm like a Ponzi scheme
The DOJ said Girardi was a once-powerful figure in California’s legal community.
However, for years, Girardi misappropriated and embezzled millions of dollars from client trust accounts at his law firm.
Between October 2010 and late 2020, Girardi ran Girardi Keese like a Ponzi scheme, lying to clients about unpaid settlements, according to the DOJ.
He directed co-defendant Christopher Kamon, the firm’s former CEO, to use the new settlement funds for partial payments to previously defrauded clients or pay for unrelated expenses.
Girardi misled clients with false claims that settlements had not been paid, and cited bogus requirements like tax obligations, bankruptcy claims, judicial authorizations and other debts as excuses for delays.
He also misused tens of millions from his firm’s account to cover illegitimate expenses including $25 million for his wife’s company, EJ Global, and millions on private jets, luxury cars, and exclusive clubs.
Girardi disbarred in July 2022
At the end of 2020, as Girardi and his law firm faced mounting legal problems related to his theft of client funds, Girardi Keese was forced into involuntary bankruptcy.
The State Bar of California disbarred Girardi in July 2022.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated this matter. The Office of the United States Trustee provided assistance.
 announced June 3 that disbarred California personal injury attorney Thomas Vincent Girardi was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. ){kind=link}