‘Chrisley knows best’ star Todd Chrisley loses defamation lawsuit, to pay $755k to GA Revenue agent
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA: ‘Chrisley knows best’ star Todd Chrisley faces fresh legal woes as a Georgia court orders him to pay $755,000 to a former special agent with the Georgia Department of Revenue, Amy Doherty-Heinze, for defamation.
The court's verdict, delivered on April 4, includes compensatory damages of $350,000, punitive damages of $170,000, and litigation expenses totaling $235,000. Doherty-Heinze filed the defamation complaint against the reality star in July 2021, alleging that Chrisley began attacking her amid a GDOR investigation into him and his wife, Julie Chrisley, which began three years earlier.
Chrisley's social media campaign against the GDOR and its employees, accusing them of illegal and improper conduct, included targeting Doherty-Heinze despite her lack of involvement in the investigation.
‘Chrisley knows best’ star Savannah Chrisley says parents Todd and Julie Chrisley have not spoken ‘since the morning they went into federal prison’
Since Todd and Julie reported to separate federal prisons in January 2023 to serve sentences in their tax fraud case, Savannah revealed that they haven't spoken to each other. The ‘Chrisley knows best’ star Savannah Chrisley says she has been facilitating communication between her parents.
Despite having access to email, Todd, 54, and Julie, 51, have faced challenges in maintaining steady communication, according to their daughter Savannah.
She revealed to E! News that their ability to communicate has been hindered since Todd Chrisley spoke out from behind bars."The last time they spoke was the morning they went into federal prison."
Savannah also claimed that there has been retaliation against her father for their outspokenness about prison conditions, resulting in prison officials blocking many of his emails to her mom. This situation has made it particularly challenging for Todd and Julie to "stay connected".
‘Chrisley knows best’ star Savannah Chrisley sits down with granny Faye Chrisley for her ‘Unlocked with Savannah’ podcast
Savannah Chrisley's latest episode of 'Unlocked with Savannah' features a special guest: her grandmother Faye Chrisley. In this episode, they share their life stories and discuss Faye's love for "Pina coladas" by the pool.
Savannah shared a sneak peek on Instagram, jokingly warning her followers that no caption could adequately prepare them for the episode's content. The podcast is available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
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Why were ‘Chrisley knows best’ stars Todd and Julie Chrisley sentenced to prison?
'Chrisley Knows Best' stars Todd and Julie Chrisley are currently in prison for their involvement in a financial fraud case.
Following a federal indictment in August 2019, Todd and Julie Chrisley were convicted by an Atlanta federal jury on 12 charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, on June 7, despite pleading not guilty.
Todd Chrisley received a 12-year prison sentence, while Julie was sentenced to seven years, as announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized the severity of their crimes, which involved defrauding banks and evading federal income taxes over a decade, underscoring the significant consequences of exploiting the nation's banking system for personal gain.
Todd is due to be released in October 2032, according to prison records, while Julie is slated to serve time until July 2028.
