She Defrauded the Bank. It's Still Paying Her Legal Fees
JPMorgan remains on the hook for Charlie Javice
By John Johnson with Newser.AI Posted Jul 3, 2026 7:39 AM CDT
It's an odd footnote to a fraud case involving JPMorgan Chase. The bank has to keep paying the legal fees of entrepreneur Charlie Javice—even though she was convicted of defrauding the institution, reports the Wall Street Journal. A Delaware judge ruled Thursday that JPMorgan must continue covering the defense costs of Javice, who is appealing her conviction and 85-month prison sentence, per Reuters. She was convicted last year of duping the bank into buying her education startup with fudged numbers.
The bank says Javice and a co-executive, Olivier Amar, have run up $144.2 million in defense costs, nearly matching the purchase price of their startup, Frank, and has argued the expenses are so extreme it shouldn't have to keep paying. The Delaware court, however, said JPMorgan is still bound by a contract to cover such fees in the event of a dispute. Javice's side hailed the ruling as a straightforward enforcement of the deal, while JPMorgan said it "respectfully" disagrees and is weighing next steps. The fees include $25,800 in hotel upgrades, $530 in gummy bears, and a $161 seafood tower.
