Julie Chrisley
| Julie Chrisley | |
|---|---|
| Born: | January 9, 1973 South Carolina |
| Charges: | Bank fraud, Tax evasion |
| Sentence: | 7 years (84 months) |
| Facility: | Released May 2025 (pardoned) |
| Status: | Released; pardoned by President Trump |
Julie Chrisley (born January 9, 1973) is an American reality television star from the USA Network series "Chrisley Knows Best" who was convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion alongside her husband Todd Chrisley.[1] Julie was originally sentenced to seven years in federal prison in November 2022 and was resentenced to the same term in September 2024 after an appeals court found technical errors in her original sentencing. On May 28, 2025, she was released from federal prison after receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.[2]
Summary
Julie and Todd Chrisley became wealthy reality television stars through "Chrisley Knows Best," which premiered in 2014 and depicted their affluent lifestyle and family dynamics. Federal prosecutors proved that the Chrisleys had defrauded banks out of more than $30 million in loans by providing false financial statements and then evaded taxes on their income. Despite their public image of wealth, their finances were built substantially on fraud.
Background
Julie Chrisley grew up in South Carolina and married Todd Chrisley in 1996. The couple starred together in "Chrisley Knows Best," which ran for nine seasons and spawned spin-off shows including "Growing Up Chrisley." The show portrayed the family as wealthy and glamorous.
Criminal Case
Charges and Trial
In August 2019, Julie and Todd Chrisley were indicted on federal charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax evasion. Prosecutors alleged that from 2006 onward, the Chrisleys submitted false bank statements and fake documents to obtain over $30 million in fraudulent loans from banks. They also allegedly evaded federal taxes.
In June 2022, a federal jury in Atlanta convicted both Julie and Todd on all counts.
Original Sentencing
In November 2022, Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, while Todd received 12 years. They began serving their sentences in January 2023.
Resentencing
In June 2024, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the trial judge had miscalculated Julies sentence due to "insufficient evidence" that she was part of the bank fraud scheme when it originated in 2006. The appeals court ordered a resentencing. On September 25, 2024, Judge Eleanor Ross resentenced Julie to the same seven-year term, declining her request for a reduced sentence.[3]
Pardon and Release
On May 27, 2025, President Donald Trump granted Julie and Todd Chrisley full pardons. Julie was released from Federal Medical Center Lexington on May 28, 2025. Their daughter Savannah Chrisley had advocated publicly for their release.[2]
The Chrisleys have since announced a new reality show, "Chrisleys: Back to Reality," premiering on Lifetime in September 2025.[4]
See Also
References
- ↑ U.S. Department of Justice, "Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion," https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/television-personalities-sentenced-years-federal-prison-fraud-and-tax-evasion.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CNN, "Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley are released from federal prison after receiving Trump pardons," May 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/28/us/todd-chrisley-pardon-prison-release.
- ↑ Today, "Julie Chrisley was just resentenced. Inside the judges verdict," September 2024, https://www.today.com/popculture/julie-chrisley-resentencing-verdict-rcna172674.
- ↑ E! Online, "Todd Chrisley Released From Prison After Donald Trump Pardon," May 2025, https://www.eonline.com/news/1418035/todd-chrisley-released-from-prison-after-pardon.