Todd and Julie Chrisley of US reality television have reportedly begun their combined 19-year prison sentences. Todd, 53, entered Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida on Tuesday, January 17, where he will serve a 12-year sentence. Julie, 50, on the other hand, arrived at Federal Medical Center Lexington, Kentucky, where she will serve her seven-year sentence. According to Entertainment Tonight, her first destination was Florida, but that changed on December 20, 2022 from the Sunshine State’s Marianna Correctional Institution to its current penitentiary.
Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion.
Todd and Julie were found guilty in June 2022 after federal prosecutors said they were part of a major bank fraud plot and hid their earnings from tax authorities while flaunting their lavish lifestyles. At their trial, prosecutors alleged that the pair used forged papers to obtain nearly $30 million in illegal loans from banks. However, when they were unable to repay, they filed for bankruptcy.
According to USA Today, prosecutors stated:
“The Chrisleys have created an empire under the illusion that their money was made through hard work and dedication. The unanimous verdict confirms the truth: Todd and Julie are professional con artists who have made a living jumping from one fraud scheme to the next, lying to banks, defrauding suppliers and evading taxes.”
In addition to the two, their accountant, Peter Tarantino, was convicted. According to the Justice Department, he was charged with conspiracy to defraud the government and two counts of deliberately filing false tax returns.
Todd and Julie started their reality TV show “showing off their money and lifestyle to the American public” while insolvent, prosecutors said. They also kept the multimillion dollar show from the IRS. Prosecutors also alleged that Todd and Julie encouraged their friends to lie under oath and gave the jury false documents.
“The Chrisleys are remarkable in terms of the diverse and broad scope of their fraudulent activities, as well as the extent to which they engaged in fraud and obstructive behavior over a long period of time.”
Julie’s lawyers argued in a court document after the trial that she had only a small part in the tax fraud case and that instead of jail time, probation with specific restrictions would be an appropriate punishment. The pair maintain their innocence and are challenging their conviction in court. Chrisley Knows Best, a 2014 reality TV show on the USA Network catapulted the Chrisleys to popularity. They were on the program with their three children, Chase, Savannah and Grayson.
