Alex Murdaugh, the former South Carolina lawyer convicted of murdering his wife and son, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on Monday for stealing millions from legal clients. This sentence will run concurrently with his previous 27-year state sentence for related financial crimes.
The 55-year-old Murdaugh admitted stealing settlement money from clients, including from the estate of his family’s longtime housekeeper. Though he agreed to a polygraph test as part of a plea deal, prosecutors accused him of failing it and identified $1.3 million more in stolen funds.
“This is a reprehensible crime that deserves the most serious of sanction,” said U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel in handing down a longer sentence than the 30 years requested, also ordering over $8 million in restitution.
An emotional Murdaugh told the court “I literally am filled with sorrow and guilt over the things that I did.” He is already serving life without parole for the 2021 murders, which he is appealing, citing potential jury tampering.
Despite his admitted opioid addiction contributing to his crimes, Alex Murdaugh will likely spend over four decades behind bars for his prolific financial fraud against clients who trusted him.
