‘Chrisley Knows Best’ sentencing: Todd Chrisley gets 12 years in prison, wife Julie gets 7 years

ATLANTA, Georgia — Actuality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley had been sentenced Monday to prolonged jail phrases after being convicted earlier this yr on prices together with financial institution fraud and tax evasion.

U.S. District Choose Eleanor Ross in Atlanta gave Todd Chrisley 12 years in jail plus 16 months of probation, whereas Julie Chrisley bought seven years behind bars and 16 months of probation, information shops reported.

The Chrisleys gained fame with their present “Chrisley Is aware of Finest,” which follows their tight-knit, boisterous household. Federal prosecutors mentioned the couple engaged in an intensive financial institution fraud scheme after which hid their wealth from tax authorities whereas flaunting their lavish life-style.

“The Chrisleys have constructed an empire primarily based on the lie that their wealth got here from dedication and exhausting work,” prosecutors wrote. “The jury’s unanimous verdict units the report straight: Todd and Julie Chrisley are profession swindlers who’ve made a residing by leaping from one fraud scheme to a different, mendacity to banks, stiffing distributors, and evading taxes at each nook.”

Todd Chrisley’s attorneys had argued in a court docket submitting that he shouldn’t face greater than 9 years in jail. Julie Chrisley’s attorneys mentioned an inexpensive sentence for her could be probation with particular situations and no jail time.

The Chrisleys had been convicted in June on prices of financial institution fraud, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the IRS. Julie Chrisley was additionally convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors have mentioned the couple submitted pretend paperwork to banks and managed to safe greater than $30 million in fraudulent loans. As soon as that scheme fell aside, they walked away from their duty to repay the loans when Todd Chrisley declared chapter. Whereas in chapter, they began their actuality present and “flaunted their wealth and life-style to the American public,” prosecutors wrote, after which hid the thousands and thousands they produced from the present from the IRS.

The Chrisleys additionally submitted a false doc to a grand jury that was investigating their crimes after which satisfied family and friends members to lie beneath oath throughout their trial, prosecutors argued. Neither has proven any regret and so they have, as an alternative, blamed others for his or her felony conduct, prosecutors wrote.

“The Chrisleys are distinctive given the numerous and wide-ranging scope of their fraudulent conduct and the extent to which they engaged in fraud and obstructive habits for a protracted time frame,” prosecutors mentioned.

Todd Chrisley’s attorneys mentioned in a submitting that the federal government by no means produced any proof that he meant to defraud the banks, and that the loss quantity calculated was incorrect. In addition they famous that the offenses had been dedicated a very long time in the past and mentioned he has no severe felony historical past and has medical situations that “would make imprisonment disproportionately harsh.”

His attorneys had additionally submitted letters from associates and enterprise associates that present “a historical past of excellent deeds and striving to assist others.” Individuals who depend on Chrisley – together with his mom and the many individuals employed by his tv reveals – shall be harmed whereas he is in jail, they argued.

They urged the decide to present him a jail sentence under the rule of thumb vary adopted by supervised launch and restitution.

Julie Chrisley’s attorneys contended that she performed a minimal function within the conspiracy and was not concerned when the loans mentioned in sentencing paperwork had been obtained. She has no prior convictions, is an asset to her group and has “extraordinary household obligations,” her attorneys wrote, as they requested for a sentence of probation, restitution and group service.

The Chrisleys have three youngsters collectively, together with one who’s 16, and likewise full custody of the 10-year-old daughter of Todd Chrisley’s son from a previous marriage. Julie Chrisley is the first caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law, in response to the submitting.

Her attorneys additionally submitted letters from character witnesses describing her as “hard-working, unfailingly selfless, dedicated to her household and buddy, extremely revered by all who know her, and powerful of character.”