Reality TV’s ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ stars found guilty of fraud, tax evasion
(Reuters) – Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of the fact TV present “Chrisley Is aware of Greatest,” have been discovered responsible by a federal court docket jury on Tuesday of federal expenses of tax evasion and conspiring to swindle group banks out of $30 million in fraudulent loans.
The responsible verdicts towards the Chrisleys and their accountant, Peter Tarantino, capped a three-week trial in U.S. District Court docket in Atlanta, in response to an announcement from the U.S. Legal professional for the Northern District of Georgia.
The Chrisleys have been accused of submitting false financial institution statements, audit reviews and private monetary statements to acquire hundreds of thousands in private loans from group banks within the Atlanta space earlier than the couple turned TV stars.
Based on prosecutors, the couple spent the cash on luxurious automobiles, designer garments, actual property and journey, whereas utilizing bogus new loans to pay again a number of the previous ones. Todd Chrisley finally filed for chapter to stroll away from greater than $20 million in debt.
The chapter proceedings in 2014 additionally coincided with the couple touchdown their very own USA Community actuality present, “Chrisley Is aware of Greatest,” portraying Todd Chrisley as a Georgia actual property tycoon and patriarch of a rich household residing within the Atlanta space.
Searching for to evade assortment of $500,000 in delinquent taxes owed by Todd Chrisley, the couple opened company financial institution accounts of a family-owned loan-out firm in his spouse’s title, earlier than transferring possession to his mother-in-law, prosecutors stated.
On the similar time, in response to prosecutors, the couple didn’t file tax returns or pay any taxes from 2013 by 2016 at the same time as they earned hundreds of thousands from their tv present, in response to prosecutors.
The trial jury returned responsible verdicts on all counts, together with expenses of tax evasion, conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and conspiracy to defraud the Inside Income Service. Julie Chrisley was additionally convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Sentencing was set for Oct. 6.
The conviction comes only a month after “Chrisley Is aware of Greatest” was renewed for a tenth season on the USA Community, whereas the E! leisure channel picked up a fourth season of the spinoff collection “Rising Up Chrisley,” in response to Hollywood commerce publication Selection.
E! final month additionally gave its manufacturing go-ahead to a brand new relationship collection “Love Limo,” starring and produced by Todd Chrisley, Selection reported.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Enhancing by Robert Birsel)
