Former prominent South Carolina lawyer, Alex Murdaugh, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for stealing millions of dollars from his clients and his own law firm.
The 53-year-old was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to multiple charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and making false statements to a bank. Murdaugh admitted to stealing over $3 million from his clients and another $1 million from his law firm, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED).
According to prosecutors, Murdaugh used the stolen funds to support his lavish lifestyle, which included expensive vacations, private school tuition for his children, and even a $1 million life insurance policy for himself.
During the sentencing hearing, Murdaugh apologized for his actions and expressed remorse for the harm he caused to his clients and colleagues. He also acknowledged that his actions were motivated by his addiction to opioids and alcohol, which he had been struggling with for years.
The judge, U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, noted that Murdaugh’s actions were a “betrayal of trust” and that he had caused “significant harm” to his clients and his law firm. In addition to the prison sentence, Murdaugh was also ordered to pay restitution of over $4.3 million to his victims.
Murdaugh’s downfall began in September 2018 when he was shot in the head while changing a tire on the side of the road. The shooting, which was initially believed to be a botched robbery attempt, was later revealed to be a failed attempt by Murdaugh to stage his own death in order to collect a $10 million life insurance policy.
This revelation led to an investigation into Murdaugh’s financial dealings, which ultimately uncovered his embezzlement scheme. Murdaugh’s law firm also filed a civil suit against him, accusing him of misappropriating funds and causing the firm to lose clients and revenue.
Murdaugh’s sentence is a significant fall from grace for a man who came from a prominent legal family in South Carolina. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all prominent lawyers in the state, and Murdaugh himself was a successful lawyer until his addiction and greed led to his downfall.
In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Rhett DeHart said, “Alex Murdaugh’s greed and deception have finally caught up with him. He will now spend the next 40 years in federal prison, where he can no longer harm his clients or his community.”
