Todd and Julie Chrisley engaged in an enormous bank fraud scheme and then hid their wealth from tax authorities while flaunting their luxury lifestyle, according to federal prosecutors, who argued that the reality television stars should receive significant prison terms.
Their show “Chrisley Knows Best” which depicts their close-knit, rowdy family brought them renown. In June, they were convicted guilty of federal counts, and they are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross at a hearing beginning Monday and possibly lasting through Tuesday.
Using a process to create a sentencing guideline range based on various factors, federal prosecutors found that the upper end of the range for Todd Chrisley is about 22 years and the upper end for Julie Chrisley is approximately 12 and a half years. The pair should also be compelled to pay reparations, according to a court filing by prosecutors.
Prosecutors noted, “The Chrisleys have constructed an empire on the falsehood that their wealth was the result of commitment and hard work.” “The jury’s unanimous verdict corrects the record: Todd and Julie Chrisley have built a life by hopping from one fraud scheme to another, lying to banks, stiffing suppliers, and dodging taxes at every turn.”
The Chrisleys disagree with the government’s estimates for the guidelines. In a court document, Todd Chrisley’s attorneys argued that he should not be sentenced to more than nine years in jail and that the judge should sentence him below the lower end of the sentencing guidelines. The attorneys for Julie Chrisley wrote that she should receive probation with strict terms and no jail time.
In June, the Chrisleys were found guilty of bank fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to deceive the IRS. Additionally, Julie Chrisley was found guilty of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
The couple’s accountant, Peter Tarantino, was found guilty of conspiring to defraud the IRS and knowingly filing fake tax forms. He is scheduled for sentencing alongside the Chrisleys.
According to prosecutors, the couple submitted forged documents to banks and obtained more than $30 million in fraudulent loans. Todd Chrisley’s bankruptcy discharged them from their need to repay the loans after the scheme collapsed. Prosecutors argued that the couple began their reality show and “flaunted their wealth and lifestyle to the American public” while they were in bankruptcy. When they began earning millions from their television show, they buried the money to avoid paying taxes.
Prosecutors claimed that the Chrisleys submitted a phony document to a grand jury investigating their crimes and then induced friends and family members to lie under oath during their trial. Prosecutors said that neither of them has showed remorse and has instead placed blame on others for their unlawful behavior.
Prosecutors noted, “The Chrisleys are exceptional given the broad and extensive breadth of their fraudulent conduct and the extent to which they engaged in fraud and obstructive behavior over an extended period of time.”
In a court filing, Todd Chrisley’s attorneys stated that the government never presented evidence that he intended to defraud any of the banks and that the loss amount calculated by the government is incorrect. They further observed that the crimes for which he was convicted occurred many years ago. They wrote that he has no significant criminal history and medical conditions that “would make imprisonment disproportionately harsh.”
His attorneys submitted letters from friends and business associates attesting to his “history of good deeds and efforts to assist others.” Those who rely on Chrisley, such as his mother and the “hundreds” of people employed by his television shows, will be harmed while he is incarcerated, according to his attorneys.
They urged the judge to impose a prison term below the range recommended by the guidelines, followed by supervised release and restitution.
The attorneys for Julie Chrisley stated in a filing that she played a minor role in the conspiracy and was not involved in obtaining the loans discussed in the sentencing documents. Her attorneys requested a sentence of probation, restitution, and community service on the grounds that she has no prior convictions, is a community asset, and has “extraordinary family obligations.”