Hampton, South Carolina – Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh is set to be sentenced in federal court on Monday for stealing from clients and his law firm. Murdaugh is already serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of his wife and son. Federal agents have recommended a prison sentence of 17 to 22 years for additional charges. These charges are in addition to the 27-year prison sentence Murdaugh received for financial crimes in state court, which he will have to serve if his murder convictions are overturned on appeal.
The plea deal includes a total of 22 federal counts, marking the final charges against Murdaugh. Once an established lawyer handling multimillion-dollar settlements in Hampton County, Murdaugh’s life now revolves around prosecutors urging the judge to revoke the plea deal and issue a harsher sentence. The FBI believes Murdaugh is withholding information regarding the $6 million he stole and the involvement of an unnamed attorney in his criminal activities.
Prosecutors have described Murdaugh as a prolific fraudster, stating that he spent his career deceiving both personal and professional relationships. They argue that his deceit escalated when he resorted to murdering his wife and son after his fraudulent activities unraveled. Among his various crimes, Murdaugh stole from clients, including the family of his longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. In collaboration with a lawyer friend, he orchestrated a scheme to steal $4 million in a wrongful death settlement with the family’s insurer. He also misappropriated funds intended for the care of a quadriplegic client and a state trooper injured on duty.
Murdaugh’s fraudulent activities extended to nearly two dozen clients, as discovered by the FBI investigation. They found 11 more victims than the state inquiry and estimated that Murdaugh stole nearly $1.3 million from them. While Murdaugh has been convicted of the murder of his wife and son, he maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the verdict.
The case has captured the attention of true crime enthusiasts, inspiring numerous podcast episodes and sparking conversations on social media. In the days leading up to his sentencing hearing, Murdaugh’s defense attorneys revealed an unsettling encounter during a polygraph test. They claim an FBI agent, who tested Murdaugh, mentioned examining notorious Dutch killer Joran van der Sloot and asked if he could keep a secret. According to prosecutors, Murdaugh failed the polygraph test, prompting them to seek revocation of the plea agreement for a more severe sentence.
Amidst these developments, the defense team contends that Murdaugh’s failure was a result of unusual questions and behavior from the FBI agent. They have requested the court to release all statements made by Murdaugh to the FBI. The judge will address this issue during the sentencing hearing.
Prosecutors are adamant about keeping many of the FBI statements confidential due to an ongoing grand jury investigation into the missing funds and any potential accomplices. They argue that releasing the information could jeopardize the investigation.
As the sentencing hearing approaches, the spotlight remains on Alex Murdaugh and the outcome of his federal charges. The court will determine the length of his sentence and the consequences he will face for his crimes.