Todd and Julie Chrisley sentenced to federal prison in tax evasion case

ATLANTA — Todd and Julie Chrisley have been sentenced to federal prison in a tax evasion case Monday after they were found guilty.

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According to WSB-TV, a federal judge sentenced Todd Chrisley to 12 years in prison plus 16 months probation. His wife, Julie Chrisley, has been sentenced to seven years plus 16 months probation.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty in June on charges of criminal bank fraud and tax evasion, according to WSB-TV. The couple, who starred in “Chrisley Knows Best,” reportedly took $30 million in fraudulent bank loans in order to “fund their lavish lifestyle and extravagant spending.” This started even before they had become reality television stars.

The Chrisleys, largely known for their reality television series “Chrisley Knows Best” were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2019. Officials said the couple bragged on television about how much they spent on designer clothes and when they found out about the investigation, asked family members to intervene in an attempt to obstruct justice, WSB-TV reported. Prosecutors said the Chrisleys used a film production company they controlled to hide income to prevent the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes.

“The Chrisleys have built an empire based on the lie that their wealth came from dedication and hard work,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing, according to The Associated Press. “The jury’s unanimous verdict sets the record straight: Todd and Julie Chrisley are career swindlers who have made a living by jumping from one fraud scheme to another, lying to banks, stiffing vendors, and evading taxes at every corner.”

According to WSB-TV, both Todd and Julie Chrisley were charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud. Julie was reportedly also charged with wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Both say they did nothing wrong and someone else was in control of their finances.

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Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 14: (L-R) Executive producer Stephanie Bloch Chambers, TV personalities Julie Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Chase Chrisley and Savannah Chrisley speak onstage at the 'Chrisley Knows Best' panel during the NBCUniversal USA Network portion of the 2014 Summer Television Critics Association at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 14, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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