Federal appeals judges have thrown out the sentence given to Julie Chrisley, a reality TV star, for bank fraud and tax evasion. The judges have ordered that her punishment be redone by a lower court, citing a “narrow issue.”
Julie Chrisley and her husband, Todd Chrisley, gained notoriety through their reality TV show “Chrisley Knows Best”, which followed their close-knit family’s adventures. However, in 2022, they were both convicted of conspiring to defraud community banks of over $30 million in fraudulent loans. In addition to this, they were also found guilty of tax evasion by concealing their earnings while flaunting a lavish lifestyle.
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During the trial, Peter Tarantino, who was the accountant of the couple, was also charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns. Tarantino was convicted along with the couple.
The Chrisleys and Tarantino’s convictions have been upheld by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, a legal error was found in the trial judge’s calculation of Julie Chrisley’s sentence, as she was held accountable for the entire bank fraud scheme. Due to this error, her case has been sent back to the lower court for re-sentencing.
In an email message, Alex Little, the attorney representing the couple, expressed their satisfaction with the Court’s decision to recognize the impropriety of Julie’s sentence. However, Todd’s appeal was unfortunately rejected, which was met with some disappointment. Despite this setback, the Chrisley family remains optimistic and hopeful for positive developments in the future.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that prior to becoming reality television stars, the Chrisleys, along with a former business partner, submitted false documents to banks in Atlanta to obtain fraudulent loans. The couple was accused of indulging in extravagant purchases including luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate, and travel, and using new fraudulent loans to pay off old ones. Prosecutors further claimed that Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy, leaving behind over $20 million in unpaid loans.
Julie Chrisley received a seven-year federal prison sentence, while Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in jail. Additionally, the couple was ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution.
During the appeal, the defense attorneys contended that the IRS officer gave false testimony during the trial, claiming that the couple still owed taxes. However, this argument did not hold weight in court. Additionally, they claimed that the prosecutors did not present sufficient evidence to prove the Chrisleys’ involvement in tax evasion and conspiracy, and that Julie Chrisley did not participate in bank fraud. Despite these claims, the court ruled in favor of the prosecution.
The lawyer representing Tarantino contended that trying the accountant alongside the Chrisleys caused harm to his client. Despite this argument, the request for a new trial was ultimately denied.
Upon reviewing the case, the appellate judges identified a single error. They concluded that during the sentencing, the trial judge had wrongly held Julie Chrisley accountable for the entire bank fraud scheme, which began in 2006. The panel found that neither the prosecutors nor the trial judge had presented any concrete evidence to prove her involvement in that particular year.
After examining the evidence, the panel concluded that she was involved in fraudulent activities spanning several years, beginning in 2007.
According to the appeals panel, “Julie’s sentence needs to be vacated to enable the district court to specifically determine the accurate loss amount that can be attributed to her.”
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, Todd Chrisley, aged 56, is currently serving his sentence at a minimum-security federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, with a scheduled release date in September 2032. Meanwhile, Julie Chrisley, aged 51, is incarcerated at a facility in Lexington, Kentucky, and is set to be released in July 2028.
At present, Tarantino is serving time in a minimum security federal prison camp located in Montgomery, Alabama. He is expected to be released in August of next year.
