Topline
Former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty on Thursday to 22 financial fraud-related charges, according to multiple reports, stemming from allegations that Murdaugh stole money from his clients and insurance settlements from the family of his late housekeeper.
Alex Murdaugh, 55, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering … [+]
Key Facts
Murdaugh, 55 signed a plea agreement on Monday that indicated he would plead guilty to 22 financial fraud-related charges, which include 14 counts of money laundering, five counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
An indictment alleges that Murdaugh defrauded his clients and obtained money by “means of false pretenses,” including claims that Murdaugh had collected attorney’s fees on fake or nonexistent annuities, directed other attorneys to disburse attorney’s fees directly to him rather than through his law firm and accepting insurance proceeds intended for beneficiaries, among other claims.
Murdaugh allegedly conspired with his banker Russell Laffitte to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, according to the indictment, after Murdaugh asked Laffitte to serve as the conservator for his personal injury clients—receiving at least $350,000 in fees between 2011 and 2021.
Between 2018 and late 2020, Murdaugh also allegedly conspired with a personal injury attorney in Beaufort, South Carolina, to defraud the estate of Murdaugh’s former housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who died in 2018 after a “trip and fall accident” at the Murdaugh family’s home.
The Beaufort-based attorney then received checks in insurance claims totaling $4.3 million before placing the funds in a fake bank account that belonged to Murdaugh, the indictment claims.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of at least 20 years in prison, while others have a maximum 30-year sentence.
Surprising Fact
Murdaugh still faces 100 other charges, according to the Associated Press, including claims he committed insurance fraud by hiring someone for $2 million to kill his surviving son, Buster, to collect a $10 million life insurance policy. Other claims include allegations Murdaugh failed to pay taxes on the money he stole, in addition to an alleged drug and money laundering ring.
Key Background
Murdaugh—a once-prominent personal injury attorney—was found guilty in March on charges stemming from the killing of his wife Maggie and his 22-year-old son Paul in 2021. Murdaugh maintained his innocence throughout the trial, suggesting he “didn’t shoot my wife or my son, anytime, ever.” During the trial, which garnered national attention, Murdaugh admitted to lying about his whereabouts after previously claiming he was nowhere near where they were killed.
Tangent
Attorneys representing Murdaugh filed a motion for a new trial earlier this month, alleging the court clerk influenced the jury by indicating Murdaugh was guilty of killing his wife and adult son while pressuring them to come to a quick verdict. Attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian allege the clerk, Rebecca Hill, told jurors “not to be fooled” by the evidence presented by Murdaugh’s attorneys and advised them not to believe Murdaugh’s testimony. One unidentified juror indicated they “had questions” about Murdaugh’s guilt during deliberations, but voted guilty because they were “pressured by other jurors.” Murdaugh was also expected to stand trial in a wrongful death case involving Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old who died in a 2019 boat crash, before Beach’s family reached a $15 million settlement. The civil suit claimed the Murdaugh family and the local Parker’s Kitchen convenience store had “joint and several liability” in Beach’s death.
Further Reading
Alex Murdaugh Indicted On New Fraud Charges (Forbes)
Alex Murdaugh’s Attorneys Request New Trial—Accusing Court Clerk Of Jury Tampering (Forbes)
