Atlanta (AP) — Todd and Julie Chrisley driven by greed They were involved in a massive bank fraud scheme, hiding their wealth from the tax authorities while flaunting a luxurious lifestyle.
The Chrisleys rose to fame with the show “Chrisley Knows Best,” which followed their close-knit and tumultuous family.they were convicted on federal indictment The verdict is expected to be handed down by U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross in hearings that begin in June, begin Monday and are likely to extend to Tuesday.
Using a process to calculate the range of sentencing guidelines based on several factors, federal prosecutors found that the upper end of that range was about 22 years for Todd Chrisley and about 12 1/2 years for Julie Chrisley. I decided that it was. The couple should also be ordered to pay damages, prosecutors wrote in court documents.
“The Chrisleys built an empire based on the lie that their wealth came from dedication and hard work,” the prosecutor wrote. “The jury’s unanimous verdict sets the record straight. Todd and Julie Chrisley jumped from one scam scheme to another, lied to banks, stiffened vendors, and evaded taxes at every corner.” A career scammer who’s been making a living.”
Chrisleys disagrees with government guideline calculations. Todd Chrisley’s attorneys said he should not face more than nine years in prison and that the judge should sentence him below the lower limit of the guidelines. The verdict wrote that it was probation with special conditions and no imprisonment.
Chrisleys was found guilty in June of bank fraud, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the IRS. Julie Chrisley was also convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
An accountant hired by the couple, Peter Tarantino, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the IRS and of willfully filing false tax returns. He will be sent to trial alongside the Chrisleys.
Prosecutors say the couple filed fake documents with the bank to secure more than $30 million in fraudulent loans. While bankrupt, they started reality shows and “showed off their wealth and lifestyle to the American public,” prosecutors wrote. When they started making $10,000, they hid money from the IRS to avoid paying taxes.
The Chrisleys submitted false documents to a grand jury investigating their crimes and then persuaded friends and family members to lie when testifying under oath during the trial, prosecutors said. I am writing. Neither of them showed remorse, instead blaming others for their own criminal behavior, the prosecutor wrote.
“The Chrisleys are unique given the varied and extensive range of fraudulent activity and the extent to which they were involved in fraud and sabotage over time,” prosecutors wrote.
Todd Chrisley’s attorneys said in court filings that the government never provided evidence that he intended to defraud any bank and that the losses calculated by the government were incorrect. I’m here. They also noted that the crime for which he was convicted was committed long ago. they are writing
His attorney has submitted letters from friends and business associates showing a “history of good deeds and efforts to help others.” Those who rely on Chrisley will be harmed while he is in prison, including his mother and “a large number of people” employed by his TV show, his lawyer wrote. There is
They asked the judge to impose a prison sentence below the guidelines and to release and return them under supervision.
Julie Chrisley’s attorneys said Julie Chrisley’s involvement in collusion was minimal and not when the loans discussed in the sentencing documents were obtained. property and had “outstanding family obligations,” her attorney wrote, seeking a sentence of probation, reparations and community service.
The Chrisleys have three children, including a 16-year-old, and Todd Chrisley’s son, a 10-year-old daughter, has full custody from a previous marriage. Julie Chrisley is the primary caregiver for her ailing mother-in-law, the filing said. , she submitted a letter stating that she was highly regarded by all who knew her and had a strong personality.
If a judge sentences both Chrisleys to prison terms, Julie Chrisley’s lawyers will allow her to remain on supervised release until her husband finishes her sentence or her granddaughter turns 18. , asked for their prison terms to be staggered.