Todd and Julie Chrisley.Photo: Kevin Mazur/ACMA2017/Getty
A verdict was reached in the federal trial ofToddand Julie Chrisley.
After a nearly three-week-long trial, the couple — known for their USA Network reality showChrisley Knows Best— werefound guilty on all countsin a federal court in Georgia, per theAtlanta Journal-Constitution. Julie was also convicted of wire fraud.
The reality starsbegan their prison sentences on Jan. 17, 2023. Todd will be released on Jan. 22, 2033, from the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola. As for Julie, she will be released from the Federal Correctional Institution Marianna on Oct. 19, 2028. Their original sentences, which were 12 years and seven years, respectively, werereducedin September 2023.
In June 2024, a judge granted Julie’s appeal and vacated her seven-year sentence due to insufficient evidence. However, in September 2024, a separate judge ruled that Julie’s original punishment was sufficient andresentenced her to the same 84 monthsin prison.
“This is 100 percent [an] injustice,“Savannah Chrisleysaid during a press conference following the court’s decision. “I will continue to fight for my parents.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the Chrisley family trial.
Who are Todd and Julie Chrisley?
USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
Todd and Julie are the married stars of the eponymous reality seriesChrisley Knows Best, whichcenters around patriarch Todd and his “brutally honest” parenting style towardshis five children—Lindsie,Kyle,Chase,Savannahand Grayson. The show premiered on USA Network in 2014 and ended in 2023. The family drama spawned a docuseries titledGrowing Up Chrisleythat followsthe lives of Chase and Savannahas they enter adulthood.
In addition, Todd hosted and executive produced a speed-dating, match-making series titledLove Limo.
In August 2023, PEOPLE confirmed that the Chrisley family is teaming up with Scout Productions for anew reality series. The untitled program will document the family’s legal troubles as well as Todd and Julie’s prison sentences.
What were Todd and Julie Chrisley indicted for in 2019?
Todd and Julie were indicted on 12 countsof bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy in August 2019 after being accused of evading nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016.
That October 2019, the Georgia Department of Revenuecleared them of their state tax evasion charge, agreeing that theChrisley Knows Beststars had overpaid four of those years and owed nothing for the other four. In total, they had a net liability of less than $77,000 in overdue taxes for just one year of incorrect filing.
Why were Todd and Julie Chrisley on trial?
Julie and Todd Chrisley.Bob Mahoney/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Although the Georgia Department of Revenue signed a settlement agreement that ended a two-year investigation into the couple’s alleged state tax liabilities,per a press release shared with PEOPLE at the time, Todd and Julie continued to face federal charges for allegedly evading federal taxes during those same years.
“Both face one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of tax fraud. Julie Chrisley faces additional counts of wire fraud and obstruction of justice,“FOX 5 Atlantareported.
The Chrisleys' accountant, Peter Tarantino, was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of willfully filing false tax returns.
When did Todd and Julie Chrisley’s trial begin?
Jury selection for Todd and Julie Chrisley’s trialbegan on May 16, 2022, perThe Tennessean. The trial lasted nearly three weeks in Atlanta.
What was said during the Chrisley trial opening statements?
On May 17, 2022, Assistant US Attorney Annalise Peters gave her opening statement, claiming that Todd and Julie submitted false documents exaggerating their wealth to banks to borrow over $30 million that they “burned” on their affluent lifestyle while additionally hiding money from the IRS.
“They made up documents and they lie through their teeth to get whatever they want, whenever they want it,” Peters told the jury, perInsider.
Todd Chrisley’s attorney, Bruce H. Morris, blamed the couple’s former employee, Mark Braddock, for impersonating Todd and committing the fraud behind the couple’s back, reportedly turning on them after he was fired in 2012. Despite Peters deeming Braddock a “fraudster,” she noted that the couple continued the act even after ties with him were cut.
Accountant Tarantino’s attorney said that his client was “in over his head” and unqualified to handle the Chrisleys' finances — noting that he “failed the CPA exam many times over 20 years,” theoutletreported. Regardless of his lack of qualifications, the attorney noted that Tarantino is not a criminal.
What punishment were Todd and Julie Chrisley facing?
Todd and Julie Chrisley.Kevin Mazur/ACMA2017/Getty
When the Chrisleys were first indicted in 2019,PEOPLE spoke with tax attorney Dawn Deliawho explained the consequences the couple could face if convicted of the alleged crimes.
At the time, Delia explained that if the case does go to trial and the jury rules in favor of the government, “the IRS can grab everything that they have to fulfill the debt.” She noted that “the IRS moves [the charges] from administrative to criminal when it’s a very serious case,” which is what they are facing.
She added that “if it does come out that the jury agrees,” Todd and Julie could “could face up to five years in prison for tax evasion” and possibly even more.
What was Todd and Julie Chrisley’s trial verdict?
After a nearly three-week-long trial, Todd and Julie were convicted on all counts in a federal court in Georgia on June 7, 2022.
They were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud, per theAtlanta Journal-Constitution. Julie was also convicted of wire fraud.
According toInsider, the pair’s former lawyer Peter Tarantino was also found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns.
What is Todd and Julie Chrisley’s sentence?
Afederal judge sentenced the Chrisley coupleon Nov. 21, 2022, with Todd receiving 12 years in prison and 16 months probation, while Julie received seven years in prison plus 16 months probation,according toInsiderandFox 5 Atlanta.
The Chrisleysbegan their prison sentences on Jan. 17, 2023. Both Julie and Todd are serving their time at Florida correctional facilities, roughly two and a half hours away from each other.
In September 2023, the couple’sprison sentences were reduced. Todd will now be released on Jan. 22, 2033, and Julie will be released on Oct. 19, 2028.
During their time behind bars, Todd and Julie have not been in contact with each other. In February 2025, Savannah told PEOPLE that her parents “haven’t spoken a word to each other” in two years.
“They’ve been together almost 30 years, and they’ve never gone a day in their life without being with one another,” she said. “That’s been a challenge. That should never happen.”
Tarantino was alsosentenced to 36 months in prison, per Insider. The couple’s former accountant reported to prison on May 1, 2023, after undergoing hip surgery, per the outlet.
Where are Todd and Julie Chrisley serving their sentence?
On Jan. 17, 2023, Todd reported to Federal Correctional Institution (FPI) Pensacola in Florida, while Julie beganher sentence at a different federal prisonin Lexington, Kentucky. She was later transferred to Florida’s Federal Correctional Institution Marianna.
A rumored documentary on the family is in the works
In July 2023, Savannah said she and her relativeswouldn’t be involvedin a rumored documentary about her family, explaining that any project on her parent’s fraud trial wouldn’t be “accurate.”
In an Instagram Story, the reality star revealed, “Chase [Chrisley] and I were very much against a documentary happening because the truth just wasn’t behind it. And from day one, I have said, no, no, no, no. I was not cooperating, nor were the kids or Chase.”
“Any documentary that does happen is all based off of lies because, at the end of the day, mom and dad aren’t involved, how do you get the full truth?” she added. “They should be able to share their side of any story that’s being told. And me, as their power of attorney, I, obviously, know the truth. And that is what it is.”
Lindsie also spoke outagainst the documentaryon an episode ofSouthern Tea with Lindsie Chrisley.
“[It’s] not really worth my timeand also not fair to people … they would be documenting about people who can’t potentially defend themselves in the event that they would need to defend themselves,” she said of her parents.
source: people.com
