For years, South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh looked his anguished clients in the eyes and promised to help them with their medical bills, their suffering or simply to survive. Then he stole some,

Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, a disgraced former powerhouse lawyer in South Carolina already serving life in prison for the murder of his wife and son, received a 27-year sentence on Tuesday for his guilty plea to nearly two dozen financial crimes.

Convicted double murderer and disgraced ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced Tuesday to 27 years in South Carolina state prison for financial crimes, as part of a plea agreement.

Ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh has been confronted in court by his fraud victims, with one telling him: "You chose to break the law that you swore to uphold." As his victims spoke, he appeared to listen closely as he sat in the courtroom in an orange jumpsuit.

Murdaugh pleaded guilty earlier this month to 22 financial fraud-related charges stemming from allegations that the former attorney stole money from his clients.

After pleading guilty to financial and drug crimes, Alex Murdaugh said he's "so sorry." Victims also spoke out about the pain he caused.

Murdaugh is serving two life sentences for murdering his wife and son. On Tuesday, he will also be sentenced for state financial crimes after a plea deal earlier this month. State prosecutors say the plea agreement resolved 101 financial-related charges and a loss of $8.