Erika and Tom Girardi.Photo: Steve Eichner/AP
Tom Girardi, the estranged husband ofReal Housewives of Beverly HillsstarErika Girardi, was indicted on fraud charges for allegedly stealing from the victims' families of a 2018 plane crash.
David R. Lira — who worked with Tom at the law firm Girardi Keese — and Christopher K. Kamon, the former head of the firm’s accounting and finance department, were both charged with 12 criminal counts.
The trio is accused of stealing more than $3 million intended for relatives of victims killed in the crash of Lion Air Flight 610, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, said in apress release.
Tom Girardi.Business Wire/Getty Images
“The substantial misappropriation alleged in this indictment compounded the grief and anguish of the clients who lost loved ones in the Lion Air crash,” said U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. in a statement. “Attorneys who violate the trust of their clients and breach a fiduciary duty that is paramount to the practice of law must be held accountable.”
“The victims of this crime placed their faith in their attorneys during a time of great vulnerability,” said Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI added. “Taking advantage of victims of tragedy is a despicable act, and we will continue to seek justice for anyone who takes advantage of innocent Americans in their hour of need.”
Tom and Lira represented five clients who were family members of passengers killed in the 2018 plane crash. They filed lawsuits against the plane’s manufacturer, Boeing Co., and settled the suits in 2020, according to the press release.
Tom, Lira, and Kamon are accused of stealing more than $3 million of the settlement funds for “improper purposes, including paying the firm’s payroll and operating expenses, and funding settlements to other Girardi Keese clients.”
Tom Girardi.Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty
Erikafiled for divorcefrom her estranged husband in November 2020 after 21 years of marriage as the racketeering and embezzlementallegationswere rising. Allegations included both a criminal and civil suit, the latter of which named Erika as well.
Though acivil battle continues, it was recently concluded in one case that the plaintiffs suing Erika for “aiding and abetting” her estranged husband in alleged fraudfailed to prove she had any knowledge of the alleged crimes, which Erika took as a hopeful sign.
“Two years now down the road, we’re getting some really great rulings, and I’m grateful for that,” she said during theRHOBHpanel in October atBravoCon 2022. “And more to go… SoI’m in a much better place, and I’m grateful for that.”
RELATED VIDEO: Embezzlement Suit AgainstErika GirardiDismissed in Illinois, Will Be Refiled in California
Amid hislegal woesand divorce from Erika, Tom was diagnosed withdementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s diseasein March 2021. That July, he was moved to anursing facilitywith 24-hour care.
During a May appearance onWatch What Happens Livewith Andy Cohen, Erika offeredan update on Tom’s health, telling hostAndy Cohenthat his condition had not improved.
“Tom lives in a memory care facility… Look, I can only say decline and further decline, it will not get better,” she said, noting that Tom still often reaches out, though their phone calls “last about five seconds.”
Cohen then asked Erika how aware Tom is of his legal troubles, to which Erika responded, “He thinks he’s still practicing law.”
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source: people.com
