Murdaugh sentenced for fraud

With two state prison sentences already on his shoulders, confessed and convicted fraudster Alex Murdaugh walked into a federal courthouse in Charleston Monday to receive yet another — a hefty federal prison sentence.

Disbarred Hampton, S.C., lawyer Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh was sentenced to a total of 480 months, or 40 years, in federal prison, in connection with a sweeping decade-plus, multi-million-dollar financial fraud crime spree that engulfed more than a score of victims in multiple South Carolina Lowcountry counties.

While Murdaugh will remain in state prison, this federal term will run concurrently with Murdaugh’s state terms. He is currently serving a pair of life sentences for the June 2021 murders of his wife and son, and 27 years for similar S.C. State Grand Jury fraud charges.

Murdaugh has also been ordered to pay a total of $8,762,731.88 in restitution to several of his former law clients and his former law firm.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel imposed the sentence after a brief sentencing hearing at the United States District Courthouse on Meeting Street in Charleston.

Murdaugh, 55, pleaded guilty on Sept. 21, 2023, to 22 charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; bank fraud; wire fraud; and money laundering. He also later pleaded guilty to similar state charges.

“Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes were extensive, brazen, and callous,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs after Murdaugh signed the plea agreement last fall. “He stole indiscriminately from his clients, from his law firm, and from others who trusted him. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and SLED committed to investigating and prosecuting Murdaugh’s financial crimes when they first came to light. Today marks our fulfillment of that promise.”

Judge Gergel used an “upward variance” in sentencing Murdaugh, which favored maximum sentences, in part as a deterrent for other white-collar criminals like corrupt lawyers.