Todd and Julie Chrisley of American reality television is said to have started their combined 19-year prison sentence. Todd, 53, was transferred to The Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida, on Tuesday, January 17, to begin a 12-year sentence.
Julie, on the other hand, arrived at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, to begin her seven-year sentence. According to Entertainment Tonight, her initial destination was Florida, but on December 20, 2022, she was transferred from the Sunshine State’s Correctional Institution Marianna to the current penitentiary.
Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion
Todd and Julie were convicted in June 2022 after federal prosecutors claimed they were involved in a large bank fraud scheme and concealed their income from tax authorities while flaunting their lavish lifestyle. During their trial, prosecutors claimed that the pair obtained nearly $30 million in illegal bank loans using forged documents. They declared bankruptcy when they were unable to repay.
The prosecutors, according to USA Today, stated:
“The Chrisleys built an empire on the premise that their wealth was earned through hard work and dedication. The unanimous conviction establishes the truth: Todd and Julie are professional con artists who have made a living by hopping from one fraud scheme to the next, lying to banks, stiffing suppliers, and avoiding taxes at every turn.”
Along with the two, their accountant, Peter Tarantino, was found guilty. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and two counts of wilfully submitting false tax returns, according to the Department of Justice.
Todd and Julie began their reality television show while insolvent and “flaunted their money and lifestyle to the American public,” according to prosecutors. They also withheld millions of dollars from the IRS. Prosecutors also claimed that Todd and Julie encouraged their friends to lie under oath and provided incorrect documents to the jury.
“The Chrisleys are remarkable in terms of the breadth and diversity of their fraudulent activity, as well as the extent to which they engaged in fraud and obstructive behavior over an extended period of time.”
Julie’s attorneys argued in a court document filed after the trial that she played only a minor role in the tax fraud case and that probation with specific restrictions would be a more appropriate punishment than prison time.
The couple maintains their innocence and is challenging their convictions in court. Chrisley Knows Best, a 2014 reality show on the USA Network, catapulted the Chrisleys to fame. They appeared on the show with their three kids, Chase, Savannah, and Grayson.
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