In a major development in the Girardi & Keese fraud case, Christopher Kamon, the former CFO of Tom Girardi’s now-defunct law firm, recently pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud. This outcome wasn’t much of a surprise, as many had long suspected Kamon’s role in embezzling millions of dollars from the firm’s client trust accounts.
Kamon Pleads Guilty
Kamon’s plea deal involves forfeiting $3.1 million and agreeing to pay restitution, admitting that between 2013 and 2020, he and others siphoned off funds meant for the firm’s clients. Kamon, however, was not the mastermind.
Tom Girardi, who is already infamous for orchestrating one of the largest legal frauds in history, was the real leader of the operation. Girardi, despite being disbarred and diagnosed with dementia, played an active role in the scheme by instructing Kamon to regularly shift money from client trust accounts under the guise of attorney fees, even when those fees had already been paid. Girardi was not only the public face of the firm, but he also controlled its finances. Each morning, Kamon would report to Girardi about the firm’s bank balances, and when the firm’s operating accounts ran low, Girardi directed Kamon to move client funds illegally, defrauding victims out of millions.
While Kamon faces a potential 40-year prison sentence, Tom Girardi’s fate is also grim. Girardi, convicted of embezzling over $15 million, awaits further legal proceedings, including a separate fraud case tied to the misappropriation of funds intended for victims of the 2018 Boeing 737 Max crash.
Ultimately, Kamon’s guilty plea confirms what many suspected: although he played a role, Girardi was the true architect of the financial misconduct that devastated countless clients and tarnished the legal industry. Girardi’s sentencing is scheduled for December 2024, and more trials await as justice continues to unfold.
On Ask 2 Lawyers
Keith Davidson walks through the plea agreement on-screen. We also discuss how Tom Girardi’s trial ended and what other twists could lie in wait. You can read long with the plea document here: Christopher Kamon Plea Agreement
Watch the podcast on our YouTube below or click the link to listen on all of your favorite podcast platforms: Listen to the show.
Sources: ABA Journal, Lawyer Monthly.
