E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
Disbarred attorney Thomas Vincent Girardi, 86, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for embezzling tens of millions of dollars from his clients. The former Pasadena resident was found guilty by a jury in August 2024 on four counts of wire fraud. United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton also ordered Girardi to pay a $35,000 fine and $2,310,247 in restitution. He is required to surrender to federal authorities by July 17.
Girardi's scheme involved stealing settlement funds from clients at his now-defunct law firm, Girardi Keese. From October 2010 to late 2020, he misappropriated funds meant for clients with severe injuries and used them for personal expenses and unrelated expenditures. "This self-proclaimed ‘champion of justice’ was nothing more than a thief and a liar who conned his vulnerable clients out of the millions of dollars," stated United States Attorney Bill Essayli.
The investigation revealed that Girardi operated his law firm like a Ponzi scheme, making false claims about settlement requirements and diverting funds to cover personal expenses such as private jet travel and luxury items. "This sentencing brings a level of recompense for countless victims of Mr. Girardi’s long-running scheme," said Tyler Hatcher from IRS Criminal Investigation.
Girardi's accomplice, Christopher Kazuo Kamon, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in October 2024. Kamon was sentenced to 121 months in custody and ordered to pay $8,903,324 in restitution on April 11. He has agreed to plead guilty to additional charges in Chicago alongside David R. Lira.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Paetty prosecuted the case.
