Are you caught on camera? Todd Chrisley Julie Chrisley‘s legal troubles have fascinated fans, but the drama won’t play out on Chrisley Knows Best.
Production on the reality series’ 10th season had not yet started when the couple’s $30 million fraud trial kicked off in May, with a source exclusively telling Us Weekly, “The second half of season 9 was filmed prior to the trial.” Episodes return later this month.
Todd, aged 53, and Julie (49), were indicted in 2019 on 12 counts each of tax evasion bank and wire fraud, conspiracy and conspiracy. In a statement made at the time, the Chrisley patriarch denied the allegations. He claimed that former employees were involved in the case. Mark Braddock was attempting to get “revenge” on him and his wife using “a bunch of phony documents” to frame the couple.
“[He]Telled [the U.S. Attorney’s office] we had committed all kinds of financial crimes, like tax evasion and bank fraud,” Todd argued. “That got their attention all right, but once we had a chance to explain who he was and what he’d done to us, they realized it was all a bunch of nonsense and they sent him on his way. [He] persuaded a different set of investigators at the U.S. Attorney’s office not only to reopen the case but also to grant him immunity from prosecution for his own crimes and bring charges against us.”
The two of them arrived at Atlanta’s courthouse on May 17 to hear the opening statements of their case. Assistant US Attorney Annalise Peters alleged that the pair exaggerated their earnings to banks to borrow more than $30 million, claiming Todd and Julie “lie through their teeth to get whatever they want, whenever they want it.”
Savannah Chrisley. Julie Chrisley. Todd Chrisley. Chase Chrisley. Lindsie Chrisley. Broadimage/Shutterstock
The jury reached a decision within less than one week of the closing arguments being presented on Thursday, June 2. UseOn Tuesday, June 7, it was confirmed that Todd and Julie had been found guilty of all charges. They will be sentenced later.
The reality TV personalities, who wed in 1996, were “disappointed in the verdict” and are planning to appeal the decision, according to a statement from their lawyer.
This isn’t the first time the couple’s finances have landed them in hot water. Todd and Julie were charged with owing the Georgia Department of Revenue more than $2.1million in unpaid state taxes, penalties, and interest. They settled the case one-month later, agreeing that they would pay $150,000
The South Carolina native has three children with Julie: son Chase (26), daughter Savannah (24), and son Grayson (16). Todd is also the father to Lindsie, 32, Kyle, 30, and ex-wife Teresa Terry. The couple was married for six years before they split in 1996.
Diana Cooper reports
