Judge Denies Reality Star Julie Chrisley’s Request to Reduce Fraud Sentence

A federal judge in Georgia denied Julie Chrisley’s request on Wednesday to reduce her sentence related to her fraud and tax evasion conviction. As a result, she will continue to serve an 84-month prison term, following her conviction in 2022 for conspiring with her husband Todd to conceal their income from tax authorities and defraud community banks in the Atlanta area, which involved acquiring $36 million in fraudulent loans.

Julie Chrisley, well-known for her role on the USA Network reality show Chrisley Knows Best, sought to have her sentence shortened to no more than five years. She emphasized the impact of her incarceration on her two youngest children during her request.

“I cannot ever repay my children for what they’ve had to go through, and for that I’m sorry,” the 51-year-old Chrisley expressed in court. “I apologize for my actions and what led me to where I am today.”

Following the ruling, her daughter Savannah Chrisley stated to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that her mother intends to appeal the decision.

In her comments, Savannah stated, “That’s what you get from an Obama-appointed judge,” highlighting her frustration towards the judicial outcome.

Before they became television personalities, the Chrisley family achieved significant success in real estate. However, prosecutors assert that they, along with a former business partner, submitted fraudulent documents to Georgia banks to secure substantial loans while maintaining a lavish lifestyle. This financial misconduct continued until Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy, leaving behind over $20 million in unpaid debts.

Despite facing dire financial conditions, the couple reportedly flaunted their wealth and lifestyle to the public, while failing to disclose their television earnings, as claimed by prosecutors.

In June of this year, an appeals court upheld the convictions of both Julie and Todd Chrisley, but directed a lower court to resentence Julie. The court found insufficient evidence to prove she was involved in the bank fraud scheme during its first year, which began in 2006.

Todd Chrisley, aged 56, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence in Florida. Meanwhile, the couple’s former accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also convicted and is scheduled to be released in March from a halfway house in the Atlanta area.

The Chrisley family’s legal troubles began when they were indicted in 2019, leading to their current circumstances and ongoing battles in the judicial system.