The investigation into Erika Girardi’s finances is moving quickly with a lawyer telling the court he fears she could hide assets.
According to court documents obtained by Radar Online, a lawyer involved in the bankruptcy for the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star’s estranged husband Thomas Girardi is asking to depose her landlord.
He believes the landlord has key information that will help build his case against the Bravo reality star. He believes Girardi transferred over $20 million to Erika in an effort to hide the money from creditors.
In newly filed documents via Radar Online, Ronald Richards, the lawyer hired by the trustee to investigative Jayne over alleged transfers from Girardi, told the court he plans to subpoena Jayne’s landlord, Benjamin Khakshour.
Richards says he wants to depose Khakshour about Erika Jayne staying at his rental. The motion states, “In order to uncover the whereabouts of potential assets of the estate, including the location of millions of dollars of litigation settlement proceeds or other firm assets which may have been fraudulently transferred to Erika Girardi aka Erika Jayne aka Erika Chahoy and her affiliated entities (collectively, “Erika”), the Trustee must examine witnesses who may have first-hand knowledge of this widespread fraud. Benjamin Khakshour, who is Erika’s landlord at her newly established residence, is one such witness.”
Richards says it has already been established that Girardi transferred $20 million to Jayne. He says he is “concerned that absent the investigation occurring rapidly, Erika may further dissipate the Debtor’s assets.”
“The necessity to trace her money and investigate the receipt of funds, her purchases including the bling and glam, (diamonds and high expenditures of beauty maintenance) has become more heightened by these recent events,” he writes.
Richards want to grill Jayne’s new landlord to find out if the money used to pay her rent was “fraudulently procured from the Debtor.” He is demanding all copies of checks or money orders used by Jayne. The Bravo star has been fighting the trustee’s request she hand over assets.
Erika and Tom made headlines in November 2020 when the Bravo reality star filed for divorce after 20 years of marriage. The following month, the estranged couple was sued for fraud and embezzlement.
In addition to accusing them of swindling $2 million in settlement funds intended for families of victims of a 2018 plane crash, class action firm Edelson PC claimed in federal court documents that the divorce was “simply a sham attempt to fraudulently protect Tom’s and Erika’s money from those that seek to collect on debts owed by Tom and his law firm.”
Tom faced a second lawsuit later that month, alleging that his company breached a written agreement and conversation with Wells Fargo Vendor Financial Services. The bank sought immediate payment on the $882,715 outstanding bill.
The 82-yar-old was placed under a temporary conservatorship in February when his brother assumed control of his daily activities and personal care. One of Tom’s attorneys claimed in court in December 2020 that he was hospitalized for a “serious illness,” raising questions about his mental competency. Court documents revealed in March that Tom was diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Photo Credit: Bravo Media/NBCUniversal (2)
![RHONJ Season 9 Premiere Recap: Wives And Dismeanors [Episode 1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuryYm2OGpHl0P8gYhEIK2gXgipI0kBY1ubYwWZqbTzF22CZIXMfw0nwxB_lOBLW0ry_9wqEw7UyJDinR0pQS_B7M_Bnwt_3I6LuH9RAjcWPytv6ToIghyphenhyphenf6w9q18q4BtA_YOdBgYeKng/w680/181022_3816506_The_RHONJ_Season_9_Taglines_Are_Here_.jpg)
