Alex Murdaugh Pleads Guilty to Financial Crimes Ahead of Trial

Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh has pleaded guilty to 22 financial crimes, the South Carolina Attorney General’s office told PEOPLE.

The plea deal between Murdaugh and prosecutors was made Friday in a Beaufort courtroom. The disbarred South Carolina attorney was scheduled to go on trial Nov. 27 before he accepted the plea deal.

Murdaugh pleaded guilty to a string of charges including money laundering, breach of trust, and financial fraud, the outlet reported.

“I am happy to be pleading guilty to these charges for a number of reasons,” Murdaugh said in court.

If the agreement is approved, he would serve 27 years for the financial crimes.

“This is a win for the victims and for justice in South Carolina. We hope the families he betrayed and stole from feel a little peace that he is going to serve time for those crimes,” state Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “It doesn’t matter your last name, your position, or your connections — no one is above the law in South Carolina.”

Gloria Satterfield, the late housekeeper for Murdaugh, was one of his victims. She died after a mysterious fall at his home.

“He’s a modern-day monster. He’s the devil,” attorney Eric Bland who represented the Satterfield family as well as others, tells PEOPLE.

Murdaugh was indicted for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul a year after they were found shot to death on the grounds of their hunting lodge.

He was found guilty of those murders in March and was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.

Sentencing for the financial crimes is scheduled for Nov. 28.