As Tom Girardi's bankruptcy case heats up, trustees overseeing it are blasting The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne for her wealth. Erika is accused of making 'fraudulent transfers' of assets, among other things. It's also said that Erika knew exactly where Tom's money was coming from and that she wasn't in the dark about how her husband funded her lifestyle. The latest claims come as Erika faces a $25 million lawsuit for the money she received from her estranged ex-husband.
If Erika thought filing for divorce was going to save her from getting tied up in his fraud claims, she had another thing coming. The "XXPen$ive" singer has been accused of helping the disgraced lawyer hide and spend the money that he stole from clients, partners, and creditors for years. A scathing Hulu documentary titled The Housewife and the Hustler put their legal woes on full display, and many have found it hard to feel sorry for Erika as the pressure mounts. With attorney Ronald Richards being involved in Tom's bankruptcy case, the lawyer has been blasting the Girardis on social media and anyone showing loyalty to Erika. Despite her pleas of innocence, records show Tom sent Erika millions of dollars over the years through his now-dissolved law firm.
New legal documents claim Erika knew that her lavish lifestyle was being paid for by her husband's company and cited her alleged "fraudulent transfer" of assets, PEOPLE reports. "Erika has direct knowledge that for at least 12 years, all of her expenses were being paid by [Girardi's firm] as she was generating them," the legal docs state. "Moreover, Erika has repeatedly contended, 'It is expensive to be me,' The glam cannot be supported by a sham." Erika's luxury expenses include $14,000,000 in American Express charges, payments for her glam squad, dancers, travel, wardrobe, jewelry, and other "lavish expenses." Attorney Ronald Richards says, "We are hopeful that Ms. Girardi comes down the mountain from a place of privilege and obscene wealth and returns some of these expenses so the former clients and creditors of this law firm can mitigate the horrific and unfair losses perpetrated by her husband and others."
This is only one of the countless claims accusing Erika of indulging in a life of wealth funded through her husband's shady business practices. Just last month, legal files showed that two of Erika's businesses, EJ Global, LLC, and Pretty Mess, Inc., received jewelry and other luxury items from funds provided by Tom's law firm Girardi & Keese. While Erika's legal team has claimed the documents have "no merit," documents filed by attorney Richards say otherwise, according to PEOPLE. "Her feigned willful blindness and ostrich approach to these expenditures will do absolutely nothing to limit her liability," the legal docs say. The paper trail shows that millions of dollars from the law firm went to Erika. With Tom owing a number of people millions, Erika is on the hook with him to pay it back.
Richards is calling out Erika and encouraging her to stop with her "meritless" legal responses. "The evidence is undeniable," Richards said. But Erika is fighting it out to the end. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has yet to appear in a deposition and has been allowing her lawyers to do all the talking for her. All the while, she remains under public scrutiny as fans watch the start of her divorce drama play out each week. It really is expensive to be Erika Jayne. How ironic.
Source: PEOPLE