In a landmark ruling on Tuesday, disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh was handed a 27-year prison sentence for a slew of white-collar crimes, including embezzlement, forgery, and tax evasion.
This sentence, the most severe ever issued by South Carolina for such offenses, comes on the heels of Murdaugh's conviction for double murder.
Murdaugh entered a guilty plea to several charges as part of a plea agreement at the Beaufort County Courthouse. The 101 charges filed against him were primarily related to his theft of millions of dollars from his law clients, friends, and family.
Following the presentation of victim impact statements, the judge approved the sentence, which had been agreed upon earlier this month in a plea deal. Under this agreement, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to 22 of the charges, with the understanding that he would receive a 27-year sentence.
As part of the plea agreement, Murdaugh agreed to relinquish his appellate rights. He will also be eligible for parole after serving 85% of his sentence.
State Attorney Creighton Waters estimated during the sentencing that Murdaugh had stolen more than $12.4 million over a decade. However, Murdaugh was only charged with $8 million in embezzlements and other offenses, according to The State.
Waters shared the stories of several victims, including Jordan Jinks, who lost approximately $150,000 due to Murdaugh's fraudulent activities. Fourteen of his victims were expected to be present in court on Tuesday.
Tony Satterfield, whose late mother Gloria was the Murdaughs housekeeper, addressed Murdaugh directly in court, expressing forgiveness for his deceit and theft. Despite his forgiving tone, the family's attorney, Eric Bland, was less sympathetic, expressing satisfaction that Murdaugh would never again experience freedom.
Murdaugh offered an apology to his victims, acknowledging his "terrible" actions and expressing his continued care for them.
Throughout the proceedings, Murdaugh, who was found guilty by a jury of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul in 2021, remained stoic, occasionally donning reading glasses to review documents.
Waters accused Murdaugh of exploiting his "trust, power, and influence" to perpetrate his schemes, including deceiving a grieving mother about a $30,000 settlement, when he had actually received $183,000 and pocketed the difference.
Earlier this year, Murdaugh was sentenced to two life sentences for the murder of his family members. Despite these convictions, Murdaugh continues to assert his innocence, with his lawyers currently seeking a retrial.
Murdaugh's surviving son, Buster, 26, was noticeably absent from the courtroom. However, Murdaugh addressed him during his opportunity to speak, expressing regret for his actions and offering words of encouragement.
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