The new 40-year federal term will run concurrently with his existing sentences but ensures he remains incarcerated even if his murder convictions are overturned on appeal. The charges stemmed from Murdaugh's theft of millions from clients and his former law firm over nearly two decades. Federal agents had recommended a prison term of 17.5 to 22 years, but U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel imposed a harsher punishment. Gergel cited Murdaugh's exploitation of "the most vulnerable people" like accident victims and children's trust funds as the reason for the lengthy 40-year sentence. In addition to the prison time, Murdaugh must pay $8.8 million in restitution to his victims. Prosecutors argued for a longer sentence, alleging Murdaugh has not fully disclosed what happened to $6 million he stole or revealed potential accomplices.
Murdaugh's most egregious scheme involved stealing $4 million from a wrongful death settlement meant for the sons of his late housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield. In total, he defrauded over two dozen clients through inflated fees, diverted settlements, and outright theft. While apologizing for his "guilt, sorrow, shame, and humiliation," Murdaugh blamed an opioid addiction spanning nearly 20 years for his criminal acts. However, Judge Gergel dismissed addiction as an excuse, stating no impaired person could have executed such intricate financial crimes over so many years.
The sentencing marks the culmination of charges against Murdaugh, whose family held power as prosecutors and elite lawyers in Hampton County for a century before his dramatic downfall. However, appeals are expected to continue for years in his sensational double murder case involving the 2021 killings of his wife Maggie and son Paul. The saga has riveted true crime followers, generating podcasts, documentaries, and extensive online discussion. Even in the days before sentencing, the case took an odd turn when Murdaugh's lawyers claimed an FBI agent improperly questioned him about examining a notorious Dutch killer prior to a failed polygraph test. Despite the lengthy sentences, whether Murdaugh spends his full life incarcerated may depend on the outcome of his pending murder appeals in a case that has captivated the nation.