RHOBH star Erika Jayne ‘could lose almost a million dollars’ after judge rules Tom Girardi is competent to stand trial - suong

REAL Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne could end up losing close to a million dollars from her divorce if ex Tom Girardi is convicted on charges that he stole from his clients.

The disgraced former lawyer, 84, was found competent to stand trial in the criminal case earlier this month.

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He pleaded not guilty last year to wire fraud on charges that he embezzled $15 million from clients, including a burn victim and a couple whose child was injured in a car crash.

Girardi, who filed for bankruptcy in 2021, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease but was accused by prosecutors of exaggerating his symptoms to try and avoid prosecution.

Erika, 52, has always denied any knowledge of her estranged husband's possible crimes, but the criminal case could affect her bank account, according to an expert.

She filed for divorce back in November 2020, but there has barely been any movement in the case.

Attorney Ronald Richards, who was previously Girardi Keese's special counsel against Erika, believes she could lose close to a million if he is convicted, along with any exempt property payouts from the bankruptcy estate.

"Her divorce has been sitting on ice since 2021," he said. "They’re doing nothing in that case. 

"She is set to get half of whatever remains after the bankruptcy case, some things are exempt and there are community assets.

DIVORCE ON ICE

"But if he's convicted, a restitution order could attack whatever is left, and she could lose out, as well as be on the hook for lifetime alimony payments."

Richards believes there could be plenty left after the bankruptcy case, and exempt property payouts.

However, the law requires restitution fines in every criminal case in which an offender is convicted of a crime.

Court records seen by The U.S. Sun show there have been no new filings in their divorce case since 2021.

The bankruptcy case is still ongoing as it was reported former clients, vendors, and lenders had nearly $480 million in claims against Girardi's estate.

In November 2023, it was reported bankruptcy trustee Elissa Miller had paid $27.2 million, mostly to secured creditors.

There are still allegedly around $322 million in unsecured creditors.

In court documents, Miller wrote: "Collections will likely continue for many years."

Richards believes Erika initially thought there would be money in the divorce, but as things unraveled it was clear it was going to be months, or even years, before she saw a dime.

The lawyer believes the Bravo star is "not happy" her ex has been found competent to stand trial, with a status conference set for Wednesday, January 10.

He is facing multiple charges, each with a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.

GIRARDI'S NET WORTH

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Erika's lawyer for comment but did not hear back.

Richards believes despite the disbarred lawyer's age and ailing health he will still serve time if found guilty.

Asked how Girardi's alleged victims have responded to the judge's decision, he said: "They feel great as there is justice on the horizon.

"The conservatorship and the bankruptcy stopped a lot, but it didn’t work for the federal criminal court."

Richards believes he'll likely "go to jail for at least a couple of years" and end up on "a medical ward for seniors."

Girardi's net worth is unknown amid the bankruptcy case, but court documents show he provided a financial statement back on March 10, 2020, to one or more lenders.

He claimed his estate included real properties worth $89 million, cash on hand of $116 million, securities totaling $44 million, and household items [including jewelry] worth $12 million - resulting in a sum of around $261 million.

However, it was alleged in court filings that many of the items listed could not be found and it was alleged he may have transferred, removed, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed property.

In a separate case in Chicago, Girardi is facing federal wire fraud charges after being accused of stealing about $3 million from family members of victims of a 2018 Lion Air crash.

That case has been in limbo but is expected to follow the competency decision in California.

NEW CIVIL CASE

Meanwhile, although Erika has not been charged with any crime and was dismissed from a civil lawsuit in January 2022, she is still under fire for her alleged involvement.

She is being sued by costume designer Christopher Psaila in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on August 29, 2023.

Psaila alleges that the estranged pair weaponized the Secret Service to maliciously prosecute him in 2017 to acquire a nearly $800,000 refund from American Express.

Erika has yet to formally answer the lawsuit, but her lawyer, Evan C. Borges, told Us Weekly in a statement that the allegations come at a questionable time as she was about to launch her weeks-long Vegas residency, "Bet It All on Blonde."

"It seems calculated that Plaintiff timed this lawsuit to coincide with Erika's Las Vegas residency opening. Plaintiff's claims against Erika are without merit," Borges said.

"Independent federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney's Office made the decision to charge plaintiff with crimes, no one else. 

"The notion that Erika controlled the U.S. Government, or for that matter a Fortune 100 company such as American Express, is fantasy."

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