Disgraced Lawyer Alex Murdaugh reportedly pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars from vulnerable legal clients in schemes that lasted for over a decade. The longtime lawyer agreed to terms that almost certainly mean more prison time for him.
Murdaugh agreed to plead guilty to a total of 22 counts, including money laundering, breach of trust, and financial fraud, in exchange for a 27-year sentence. The plea deal between the state and defense teams were disclosed after a delay in the pretrial hearing.
In July 2022, CBS News reported the lawyer’s arrest for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. A series of events unfolded as a result of this shocking crime. The investigation revealed numerous financial crime charges connected to Alex Murdaugh’s law firm.
Alex Murdaugh: What charges did he plead guilty to?
Prosecutors claimed that Alex Murdaugh allegedly stole millions from his law firm and evaded hundreds of thousands in state income taxes. The lawyer took a plea deal to resolve 101 state charges related to financial wrongdoing. The allegations claim that Murdaugh stole millions in legal settlements from clients who suffered severe injuries or from the families of those killed while on the job.
Moreover, he admitted to his wrongdoings and told the court that he did take all of that money. Citing Alex Murdaugh, CNN noted, “I agree that I wrongly took all of that money and did all of those crimes. I disagree with some of the narrative. I am guilty and I believe I would be found guilty. I’m glad to finally be given the opportunity to plead guilty. I am happy to be pleading guilty to these charges for a number of reasons.”
Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Murdaugh sat mostly straight-faced as Waters listed each scheme to divert settlements or double-count checks, enabling him to pay off accumulating debts. The lawyer also confessed to having owed restitution, and the sentencing hearing will determine the specific amounts.
Meanwhile, NBC News reported that authorities may subject Alex Murdaugh to a polygraph test. They could even call him to “testify fully and truthfully before any grand juries and at any other trials or other proceedings.”
Murdaugh’s confession comes almost two months after he pleaded guilty to almost two dozen counts of financial fraud and money laundering in September. A judge plans to sentence for the financial crimes on November 28, 2023. During the sentencing, most of Murdaugh’s victims will be able to witness the culprit receiving the punishments.
Murdaugh is already serving two life sentences in murder case
In March 2023, a jury in Colleton County convicted Alex Murdaugh of shooting and killing his wife and son at the family’s hunting estate in June 2021. He is currently serving two life sentences in prison. Yet, Murdaugh and his legal team seek a new trial, alleging court clerk interference with the jury.
The defense team officially filed a motion and requested a new trial in the murders of his wife and son. Before that, WJCL reports that on October 24, 2023, the South Carolina Court of Appeals issued a ruling. The ruling enables Alex Murdaugh’s attorneys to temporarily pause the appeal of his double murder conviction. In the motion, Murdaugh’s team alleged that Hill “tampered with the jury by advising them not to believe Murdaugh’s testimony.” The motion also expresses worries about distorting crucial details to sway the trial judge in removing a defense-friendly juror.
Currently, authorities are holding Alex Murdaugh in a maximum-security prison in South Carolina.
