'Optimistic about the road ahead': Todd and Julie Chrisley appeal prison sentences in fraud case
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The 'Chrisley Knows Best' stars Todd and Julie Chrisley decided to 'optimistically' approach their prison sentence. With three years of supervised release, Todd, 53, was sentenced to 12 years in prison while Julie, 49, was sentenced to seven years.
Their accountant Peter Tarantino who was also sentenced to three years in prison conspired along with the Chrisleys to defraud banks, file false tax returns intentionally, and meddle in the IRS probe. A day after the couple was sentenced, they asserted that they are "optimistic about the road ahead" about the court's decision, Page Six reported. They are hopeful and appeal to fight to win for a triumphant comeback.
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In a sentencing memorandum, the prosecutors write that “the jury’s unanimous verdict sets the record straight: Todd and Julie Chrisley are career swindlers who have made a living by jumping from one fraud scheme to another, lying to banks, stiffing vendors, and evading taxes at every corner.”
However, Alex Little, the couple's attorney, told People that “yesterday was a difficult day for the Chrisley family. But Todd and Julie are people of faith, and that faith gives them strength as they appeal their convictions. Their trial was marred by serious and repeated errors, including the government lying to jurors about what taxes the couple paid. Based on these issues, we are optimistic about the road ahead."
On the basis of the attorney's claim that the witness lied on the stand, the sentencing scheduled on October 6 was pushed back to November 21. Throughout the legal process, the couple maintained their innocence and also filed a joint motion for a new trial in August, which the court denied on October 28.
By inflating their earnings, the scheme let them borrow $30 million. A married ex-employee of the Chrisleys, Mark Braddock, 53, was the one who brought down the couple by testifying he assisted them in the scheme and also that he was in a gay relationship with Todd which later ended though they continued to be friends, forming a 'brotherhood'.
The 'Chrisley Knows Best', one of the most-watched USA Network shows, continues to air despite the convictions and the Chrisley family also hosts an Apple Podcast called 'Chrisley Confessions'. Apart from their show business, Todd was a successful real estate entrepreneur in Georgia. With charges of financial crimes including bank fraud, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, wire fraud, and conspiring to defraud the IRS, the reality-TV couple's spin-off series and shows were canceled in August 2019.
