The ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ stars were sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison after being convicted of tax evasion
By Lauryn Overhultz
The start of Todd Chrisley’s new year has not been good. According to numerous reports, the reality TV star will report to prison on January 17 and serve his time at the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola, a minimum-security facility.
After being found guilty of federal tax evasion, Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie Chrisley were sentenced to a total of 19 years in prison in a hearing that took place in November.
Todd revealed on a “Chrisley Confessions” podcast that he and Julie both appealed their tax fraud convictions, but that they are “not allowed” to go into further detail.
We are unable to discuss the case because the appeal was recently filed, or however they do it, I believe it was the day before yesterday, Todd said. “Our lawyers informed the courts that they intended to appeal this,”
Todd was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Julie was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. She was also hit with wire fraud and obstruction of justice charges.
Celebrity attorney James Leonard Jr. noted that celebrities can sometimes be used by the criminal justice system as an “example.”
“I think that the criminal justice system sometimes dishes out a very heavy hand when the offender is someone of note, whether that be someone that is on television, an athlete or someone that is known to the general public,” he said. “I believe that oftentimes, and it’s unfortunate, but oftentimes the criminal justice system seeks to make an example of individuals like that.”
Leonard Jr. also noted that time behind bars can be “extremely difficult” for celebrities.
“It’s extremely difficult because you are away from your loved ones,” he told Fox News Digital. “You are away from the amenities that you have grown accustomed to, your lifestyle, and it’s very difficult in that sense.”
Jen Shah, a cast member of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” will find out her fate later this week. The hearing to determine Shah’s sentence is set for January 6.
In relation to telemarketing, Shah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In response, count two, which related to a conspiracy to launder money, was dismissed.
In a press release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that Jennifer Shah “was a key participant in a nationwide scheme that targeted elderly, vulnerable victims.”
The statement continued, “These victims were misled into believing they would have financial security, but Shah and her accomplices cheated them out of their savings and left them with nothing to show for it. This Office is dedicated to exposing these schemes in all of their forms.
Here are other stars who have served time behind bars:
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart spent five months in the minimum-security Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia in 2004.
The celebrity chef was accused of insider trading after she sold off her shares of ImClone Systems stock just one day before the stock plummeted. She was accused of receiving insider information regarding the company’s failure to gain an approval by the Food and Drug Administration.
She was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction and two counts of lying to federal investigators.
Following her prison time, Stewart also spent five months under house arrest and two years of probation.
Abby Lee Miller
“Dance Moms” star Abby Lee Miller spent eight months in prison in 2017 after she was convicted of hiding parts of her income.
Miller was charged with 20 counts of bankruptcy fraud, concealing assets and making false bankruptcy declarations. The dance coach apparently hid nearly $775,000 of her income while applying for bankruptcy.
Miller was sent to a correctional facility in California following her conviction. Her sentence was cut short after the reality TV star was diagnosed with spinal cancer.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. was arrested in 1996 for speeding. The actor was charged with driving under the influence. Police also found heroin, cocaine, crack and a .357 magnum in his vehicle.
Downey Jr. spent time in jail before being released but was later sentenced to federal prison for skipping out on probation.
The actor served one year of his three-year prison sentence.
Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman
Lori Loughlin spent two months behind bars due to her involvement in the 2019 college admissions scandal.
Loughlin served her time at a prison in Dublin, California after being convicted of paying $500,000 to have her two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as rowing recruits.
The “Full House” star’s husband was also convicted in the scandal that included roughly 60 parents, collegiate coaches and more.
“Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman was sentenced to 14 days behind bars for her role in the same scandal.
Tim Allen
Tim Allen spent two years and four months behind bars after he was found at Michigan’s Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport with more than a pound of cocaine in his possession.
“I just shut up and did what I was told,” he said about serving time during an episode of “WTF with Marc Maron.” “It was the first time ever I did what I was told and played the game… I learned literally how to live day by day. And I learned how to shut up. You definitely want to learn how to shut up.”
Allen claimed he got “used to” the conditions he faced in prison by the eight-month mark.
“I don’t say this lightly and anybody who has been incarcerated [knows], it’s surprising what the human being will get used to,” the comedian continued. “Eventually after eight months, I got used to it. There were okay times. Saturday we got better food. Eventually, I went from a holding cell arrangement to my own cell.”
