According to The Los Angeles Times, an L.A. field office of the FBI is not answering questions regarding the alleged connection between a top official at the agency, his mother, and Tom Girardi.
The field office is reportedly leading the investigation into the corruption of Tom’s law firm, Girardi Keese. Tom, who has been accused of embezzlement, is the husband of Erika Jayne, a current star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
The outlet claims Assistant Director Donald Alway is the son of Tom’s former secretary and girlfriend Michelle. Court papers allege Tom and the firm gave Michelle hundreds of thousands of dollars in the mid-1990s.
At the time, Tom was allegedly misappropriating settlement funds from clients. Court filings say Tom paid over $131,000 for Michelle’s mortgage. Real estate records from Monterey County reportedly show that the residence is co-owned by Donald and his mom, and it is worth over $1.2 million.
Donald, who allegedly refused to have an interview via FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller, was once a sheriff’s deputy in L.A. County. During the summer, he became the FBI’s head of the local L.A. office.
Laura shared in a statement that Donald “has not been involved in this investigation, which largely predates his time in the Los Angeles Division.”
Donald’s mom Michelle, who the outlet was unable to reach for comment, was reportedly identified as Tom’s ex-girlfriend via a forensic accountant’s report amid his second divorce. The duration and timing of their relationship are not known.
The FBI spokesperson said the Girardi Keese investigation is being led by FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Gilhooly along with L.A.’s U.S. attorney’s office. Laura allegedly didn’t respond when asked if Donald (who Brian reports to) recused himself from the investigation.
Recently, Girardi Keese’s CFO Chris Kamon was charged with wire fraud, and he faces accusations of embezzling $10 million through the firm.