Todd and Julie Chrisley sentenced to 12 and 7 years in prison respectively
Prosecutors said the couple were involved in a massive bank fraud out of greed and then hid their assets from tax authorities.
Cody Godwin, USA TODAY
Another hearing in the Julie Chrisley case is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25. The former reality TV star, best known from the USA Network series “Chrisley Knows Best,” has been behind bars since January 2023 for bank fraud and tax evasion.
Her husband, Todd Chrisley, is incarcerated at Camp Pensacola federal prison in Florida on similar charges.
However, a review of prison records shows that Julie Chrisley may not be in prison prior to her resentencing hearing. As the Tallahassee Democrat previously reported, Julie Chrisley was “not in BOP custody” as of Sunday, September 22, and her release date is April 22, 2028.
In June, federal judges overturned Julie Chrisley’s nearly six-year prison sentence after ruling there was insufficient evidence in her case. According to a USA TODAY report, judges on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the judge in Chrisley’s 2022 trial miscalculated her sentence and found no evidence of her full involvement in the bank fraud scheme.
“The district court has not identified the evidence it relied on to hold Julie liable for losses incurred before 2007, nor can we independently find it in the record,” the judges wrote in their unpublished opinion.
Julie Chrisley’s conviction is expected to be retried in a lower court.
Here’s more about the case that forced the Chrisleys to move from a Belle Meade mansion to a federal prison.
Who are Todd and Julie Chrisley?
Todd and Julie Chrisley are former television personalities known for the USA Network reality TV show “Chrisley Knows Best,” which followed the feisty, close-knit Ritter family. The couple moved from Atlanta to Nashville’s Belle Meade neighborhood in 2015. In August 2021, the couple told the Tennessean that they had plans to open a restaurant and champagne bar in Music City.
In 2022, the series was renewed for a 10th season by the USA Network, while the spin-off “Growing Up Chrisley,” which stars her children Chase and Savannah, was renewed for a fourth season. E! had also announced that it would move forward with a new dating series, “Love Limo,” hosted by Todd Chrisley. However, all shows have since been canceled.
What does “not in BOP custody” mean?
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a person listed as “not in BOP custody” is no longer in BOP custody, but may still be in the custody of another correctional/penalty agency. They may also be on parole or probation.
Why were Todd and Julie Chrisley arrested?
In June 2022, Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty of federal charges including bank fraud and tax evasion. The couple was first charged in August 2019, and new charges were filed in February 2022.
Prosecutors alleged that the Chrisleys submitted false documents to banks when applying for loans. They said Julie Chrisley also submitted a false credit report and falsified bank statements when renting a home in California, and the couple refused to pay rent just months after taking possession of the home.
Both Chrisleys were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax fraud. Julie Chrisley was also charged with wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
“The Chrisleys built an empire based on the lie that their wealth was the result of dedication and hard work,” prosecutors wrote. “The jury’s unanimous verdict makes the case clear: Todd and Julie Chrisley are career fraudsters who make their living jumping from one fraud scheme to the next, lying to banks, defrauding suppliers, and evading taxes at every turn.”
The couple’s accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and intentionally filing false tax returns.
More: Todd and Julie Chrisley receive $1 million settlement from Georgia. Here’s why
How much do Todd and Julie Chrisley have to pay back?
The couple was ordered to pay $17 million in restitution to the banks they defrauded of millions, according to sentencing documents. The Chrisleys spent millions on designer clothes, luxury cars and real estate, including two Nashville mansions valued at about $9 million, the Tennessean reported.
Then, in January 2024, the Chrisleys received $1 million in compensation from the state of Georgia, years after filing a lawsuit against Joshua Waites, the former director of special investigations for the Georgia Department of Revenue. The lawsuit, filed in 2019, alleged that Waites had committed misconduct in his investigation of them.
Where are the Chrisleys imprisoned?
Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years at Camp Pensacola federal prison in Florida, while Julie Chrisley received a seven-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. The pair began their sentences in January 2023.
Contributors: USA TODAY and the Tallahassee Democrat
Diana Leyva covers breaking news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana.
