Judge Garcia sentenced William Murray Friday to a top-of-the guidelines 235 months for embezzling $13.5 million from 52 clients. Here's the 5/29/10 Sacramento Bee's recount of the sentencing:
William Murray, the Sacramento accountant who stole at least $13.3 million from dozens of his clients, was sentenced Friday in federal court to nearly 20 years in prison – but not before some of the victims gave wrenching accounts of how they were callously bled of their life savings.
Every asset of Murray's that the Internal Revenue Service can locate was ordered seized. However, U.S. District Judge Edward J. Garcia noted that the action "will not begin to make the victims whole."
Murray, who was a certified public accountant, must disclose all of his financial affairs, including bank records, to the victims.
During the dramatic 1 1/2-hour hearing in a packed courtroom, former clients called Murray "rotten," "a menace," a "sociopath" and a "snake." Most choked up as they spoke, and two had to ask Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Segal to read part of their statements.