CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal judge sentenced convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh to 40 years in prison Monday for stealing millions of dollars from his legal clients — a punishment that can be served at the same time as a 27-year sentence previously imposed by South Carolina for related crimes.

The stakes had been raised in an otherwise routine sentencing hearing after federal prosecutors said in a filing last week that Murdaugh, 55, failed a polygraph test that he agreed to undergo as part of a plea deal. In addition, they said, they identified 11 new financial victims and another $1.3 million in stolen money.

The former personal injury lawyer faced a much harsher sentence, although U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel is allowing him to serve his prison sentences for state and federal crimes concurrently. He also ordered Murdaugh to pay more than $8 million in restitution to his financial victims.

Each of the various charges in federal court carried a maximum of at least 20 years in prison, the Justice Department said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse asked Gergel to impose a 30-year sentence, arguing that “we don’t believe he is capable of living a law-abiding life as a member of society” and it would send “a very strong message about lawyers stealing money from their clients.”

Gergel said he decided to go above that to hold Murdaugh further accountable and bring justice to his victims.

“This is a reprehensible crime that deserves the most serious of sanction,” the judge said.

Murdaugh, shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, appeared emotional as he addressed Gergel.

“I literally am filled with sorrow and am filled with guilt over the things that I did,” he said.

Murdaugh is already serving a life sentence without parole for the murders of his wife, Margaret, 52, and their younger son, Paul, 22, in 2021. He is attempting to appeal the conviction.

When Murdaugh pleaded guilty in September to 22 federal financial crime charges, it came with an agreement that he would subject himself to a polygraph. Federal prosecutors said he could be called to “testify fully and truthfully before any grand juries and at any other trials or other proceedings.”

But prosecutors said in a filing that Murdaugh breached the agreement, writing that “he ranks as one of the most prolific fraudsters this state has ever seen.”

Murdaugh’s lawyers denied the allegation and had said in response that they should be able to respond in documents that can be made public.

“To allow the Government to publicly accuse Murdaugh of breaching his plea agreement while also allowing the Government to hide all purported evidence supporting that accusation from the public would violate the public’s right to the truth,” the filing said.

Federal prosecutors argued that the details must not be released because of an ongoing grand jury investigation.

But Gergel on Monday said the issue was “moot” after attorneys spoke about the prosecution’s filing in private chambers.