Former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh will be sentenced again on Tuesday, after pleading guilty earlier this month to more than 20 financial fraud-related charges stemming from allegations he stole money from his clients, including the family of his late housekeeper.
Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty earlier this month to 22 financial fraud-related charges stemming from ... [+]
Murdaugh, 55, signed a plea agreement earlier this month that indicated he would plead guilty to 22 total counts, including seven counts of money laundering, six counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent and four counts of obtaining a signature by false pretenses, among others, according to multiple outlets.
Under the terms of the plea deal, prosecutors requested that Murdaugh be sentenced to 27 years in prison, which would be served concurrently with his two life sentences for murder.
The estate of Murdaugh’s former housekeeper Gloria Satterfield alleges that Murdaugh stole about $4.3 million in insurance claims from the family, after Satterfield died in a “trip and fall accident” at the Murdaugh family’s home in 2018, according to court records.
Tommy Moore, a South Carolina state trooper, claims Murdaugh stole $100,000 of a $125,000 settlement after Moore’s patrol car was hit by a driver in 2018, resulting in neck injuries for Moore, according to ABC News.
Pamela Pinckney alleges Murdaugh took most of a $309,581 settlement and an additional $89,000 payment after her deaf son, Hakeem, became quadriplegic after a 2009 car crash.
- That’s how many charges Murdaugh faced before signing the plea deal, which reduced the number of crimes to 22, according to the Associated Press.
Murdaugh still faces charges of insurance fraud over claims that he hired someone for $2 million to kill him so that his surviving son, Buster, could collect a $10 million life insurance policy. Murdaugh also faces other charges, including allegations that he failed to pay taxes on the money he stole and claims tied to his role in an alleged drug and money laundering ring.
Murdaugh was found guilty in March for the murder of his wife Maggie and his 22-year-old son Paul, though Murdaugh has maintained his innocence. The trial garnered national attention, as Murdaugh admitted to lying about his whereabouts after previously claiming he was nowhere near where they were killed. The once-prominent attorney is part of a long line of high-profile attorneys: His family members served as district attorneys for South Carolina’s 14th circuit district between 1920 and 2006.
Murdaugh’s attorneys filed a motion for a new trial in September, alleging the court clerk influenced the jury to convict Murdaugh for killing his wife and adult son while pressuring them to come to a quick verdict. Rebecca Hill allegedly told jurors to “not be fooled” by the evidence presented by Murdaugh’s attorneys and advised them to not believe Murdaugh’s testimony. Hill has denied the claims. A new judge will decide whether a hearing will be held for the motion, according to the Associated Press.
Alex Murdaugh Pleads Guilty To Financial Crimes (Forbes)
Alex Murdaugh’s Attorneys Request New Trial—Accusing Court Clerk Of Jury Tampering (Forbes)