Global Courant
Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 22 federal financial crimes, including charges that he defrauded the estate of his former housekeeper Gloria Satterfield.
The allegations are not new. The former South Carolina attorney is already facing state charges on similar counts in connection with the theft of $4 million in insurance payments after Satterfield fell on the steps of the Murdaughs’ home in 2018 and later died.
The federal charges filed last week also echo other allegations of financial crimes from the state, including charges accusing the disgraced attorney of stealing nearly $9 million from his former law firm, vulnerable clients and the IRS since at least 2005.
His lawyers said Murdaugh, who turned 55 years old in his jail cell last week, is cooperating with federal prosecutors and they expect the case to be resolved “quickly and without trial.”
ALEX MURDAUGH CLAIMES HE’S LYING ABOUT DOGS CAUSING HOUSEHOLDER GLORIA SATTERFIELD’S DEATH JOURNEY AND FALL
Alex Murdaugh is incarcerated at the McCormick Correctional Institution in South Carolina. (South Carolina Department of Corrections/Google Maps)
Murdaugh is serving two life sentences for fatally shooting his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and his 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh, in June 2021 at the family’s former South Carolina hunting estate known as Moselle.
Prosecutors argued at his double murder trial that Murdaugh executed his wife and son to avoid exposure of his financial crimes.
He has denied any involvement in the murder and is appealing his conviction. However, when he testified in his defense, he admitted to stealing from his clients’ settlements and other financial arrangements.
Gloria Satterfield, left, and Alex Murdaugh, right testify at his double murder trial. He is accused of stealing more than $4 million from Satterfield’s estate. (Brice Herndon Funeral Home/Joshua Boucher/The State via AP)
In federal court, Murdaugh faces 14 counts of money laundering, five counts of bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
ALEX MURDAUGH SUGGESTED FOR ALLEGED THEFT OF $4M INSURANCE IN DEATH OF HOUSEHOLDER, OTHER FINANCIAL CRIMES
His longtime friend and fellow disbarred attorney Cory Fleming last week pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his part in helping Murdaugh pocket the wrongful death schemes for Satterfield’s family.
From left to right: Alex Murdaugh, Morgan Doughty, Paul Murdaugh and Maggie Murdaugh. Doughty claimed in a Netflix documentary that Paul Murdaugh physically abused her. (Courtesy of Netflix)
The housekeeper’s sons never saw a dime of the insurance money, but their attorney, Eric Bland, recovered more than $7.5 million from other parties over the theft.
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Banker Russell Laffitte was convicted of six counts of wire transfer and bank fraud following a federal trial for his role in helping Murdaugh steal from clients.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rebecca Rosenberg is an accomplished journalist and author of books with a focus on crime and criminal justice. Email tips to [email protected] and @ReRosenberg.
