(NewsReady.com) – Richard “Alex” Murdaugh was once one of the most prominent men in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Then the attorney killed his wife and his son. He was found guilty of their murders and sentenced to life in prison. Months later, he’s received a sentence in a financial crimes case.
On November 28, Judge Clifton Newman accepted a plea deal from Murdaugh. The case was related to 22 financial crimes connected to thefts from his clients. He pleaded guilty to the offenses on November 17. The charges included financial fraud, money laundering, and breach of trust. The plea agreement spanned multiple counties.
Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh’s attorney, told the press that the plea deal came with a sentence of 27 years in prison. During the hearing, the victims of his crimes were allowed to speak to him.
Tony Satterfield, the son of his longtime housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, was the first person to speak. Murdaugh stole money his insurance company paid the Satterfield family after she fell down the steps at his home and died. They were entitled to $2.7 million but never saw any of the money.
Satterfield said Murdaugh lied, stole, and betrayed his housekeeper’s family. He said he forgave Murdaugh and would be praying for him every day. Jordan Jinks, one of the defendant’s childhood friends, said that he was crying for what Murdaugh “did to everybody.” The former attorney represented his friend after a car accident and then stole the settlement money, destroying Jinks financially.
Judge Newman told Murdaugh that some of the crimes the former lawyer committed were “unimaginable.” He said that he didn’t even recognize him anymore.
In March, Murdaugh was found guilty of killing his son, Paul, and his wife, Maggie. He shot them to death while they were at the dog kennels on their property. He has maintained his innocence.
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