Who was Claire Risoldi? Flamboyant Philadelphia socialite and fraudster dies before serving jail time
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia lost one of its most notorious figures on July 14 with the death of Claire Risoldi, a 71-year-old socialite who was once popular in Republican circles. The circumstances surrounding her demise have yet to be revealed, adding another layer of mystery to her already enigmatic legacy.
Who was Claire Risoldi?
Claire Risoldi, known for her luxurious lifestyle, captivated the GOP elite with her extravagant fundraisers before becoming infamous for her involvement in a staggering $20 million insurance fraud scheme. Known for her distinctive bouffant hairstyle, mirrored aviators, and lavish six-bedroom estate, aptly named Clairemont, her life was a tale of opulence and intrigue, ending with her death just as she was on the cusp of facing justice for her fraudulent actions.
Risoldi left behind a legacy of scandal, controversy, and legal battles that lasted until her final days. The cause of Claire Risoldi's death has not been disclosed, leaving many curious about the circumstances surrounding her demise. Known for her youthful appearance, she was rumored to have been a regular patron of cosmetic surgery and a heavy user of makeup and eye-catching fashion.
The infamous fraud scheme
Risoldi's rise to infamy came in 2019 when she was convicted of orchestrating a plot to burn down her opulent six-bedroom estate named Clairemont and subsequently claim fraudulent insurance payouts totaling $20 million. Her late husband, Thomas French, a retired sheriff's deputy, tragically took his life three weeks before the trial, citing immense pressure.
Before her fall from grace, Risoldi held considerable sway in Philadelphia's GOP circles and was known for hosting glitzy fundraisers at Clairemont for political candidates, complete with Cher impersonators and mummers. Her charisma and gregarious nature helped her gain favor with the city's elite.
The insurance fraud investigation began in 2013 after a fire at Clairemont, the third blaze at the property in five years. Risoldi and several relatives, including her two adult children and daughter-in-law, were charged in the case. The family allegedly relied on trumped-up insurance claims to maintain their extravagant lifestyle and went as far as intimidating witnesses when investigations into the payouts commenced, according to the Bucks County Herald.
Legal battles
During the trial, Risoldi falsely accused firefighters who responded to the 2013 fire of stealing $10 million worth of jewelry, adding another layer of drama to the already sensational case.
In 2015, Risoldi, along with her co-defendants, faced trial for the insurance fraud scheme. She was sentenced to serve between 11-and-a-half and 23 months in prison and ordered to pay $10.4 million in restitution. However, the sentence was repeatedly delayed due to a series of appeals, preventing her from serving any jail time before her death.
Amidst the legal battles, Risoldi was forced to hand over Clairemont to cover part of the restitution order. The property, set on 10 acres and boasting a pool and pool house, was sold at auction in 2019 for $750,000. It was later renovated and sold by a real estate company for $3 million.
A lifetime of controversy
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, now the state governor, described Risoldi as the mastermind behind a "multi-million dollar insurance fraud scheme to fund her own excessive lifestyle." The source of the Risoldi family's wealth remains unclear, with Claire Risoldi having claimed that her first husband Carl P Risoldi, who died in 2001, collected disability payments and earned millions as a stonemason. Additionally, she had a 1990 conviction for two counts of felony mail fraud after defrauding an insurer out of $13,028 using false medical documents. Despite her legal troubles and convictions, Risoldi had been working on a book about her life, offering the promise of an insider's perspective into her infamous escapades.