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Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie Chrisley have been convicted of fraud and tax evasion and could face up to 30 years in prison for their crimes. The reality TV star couple was found guilty on all counts by a federal jury Tuesday (June 7), and will be sentenced Oct. 6, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Chrisleys were indicted by federal prosecutors in 2019, per AJC. A Tuesday press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office states that the couple “conspired to defraud community banks in the Atlanta area to obtain more than $30 million in personal loans” before their show premiered on USA Network in 2014.
Using “false bank statements, audit reports, and personal financial statements” to secure millions worth of fraudulent loans, the couple burned through their money and subsequently filed for bankruptcy, per the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The couple’s bankruptcy filing came around the same time they got their show on USA Network. “[W]hile they were earning millions from their TV show, Todd and Julie Chrisley, along with their accountant, Peter Tarantino, conspired to defraud the Internal Revenue Service,” the U.S. Attorney’s office states.
Todd and Julie have been accused of avoiding paying the IRS by opening corporate bank accounts only under Julie’s name, which allowed them to “evade collection of half a million dollars in delinquent taxes owed by Todd Chrisley,” per the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Prosecutors also alleged Todd and Julie did not file tax returns or pay taxes between 2013 and 2016. Todd had previously said he paid $750,000 to $1 million each year in federal taxes.
“As today’s outcome shows, when you lie, cheat and steal, justice is blind as to your fame, your fortune, and your position,” Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said the U.S. Attorney’s office press release. “In the end, when driven by greed, the verdict of guilty on all counts for these three defendants proves once again that financial crimes do not pay.”
Chrisley Knows Best Season 9 is set to premiere on USA June 23, and the show has been renewed for Season 10.
