Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley are preparing for a less glamorous life behind bars as the pair were recently sentenced to 12 and 7 years in prison, respectively. The duo was found guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion earlier this year, with the sentencing coming earlier on Monday. The Chrisleys are known for their self-titled reality TV series, Chrisley Knows Best.
Todd Chrisley's sentence is officially 12 years in federal prison, with an additional 16-month probation sentence, while Julie's is a 7-year sentence, with a further 16 months probation, according to a report from TMZ. Prosecutors claimed the Chrisleys took out $30 million in fraudulent bank loans stemming from before their television series. The pair is known for their luxurious lifestyle, consisting of new cars, designer brands, and extravagant spending. According to prosecutors, the couple used a film production company to hide their income and keep the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes.
The official charges for the Chrisleys are conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax fraud. Julie also received charges of wire fraud and obstruction of justice. The Chrisleys report date is set for Jan. 15, 2023, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The sentencing is somewhat lighter than expected, as a 71-page sentencing memorandum obtained by Channel 2 news in Atlanta stated Todd Chrisley could have faced between 17 and 22 years, while Julie would be looking at 10 to 13 years. The report featured a statement from prosecutors, reading:
"The seriousness of the Chrisleys' crimes cannot be understated. After they defrauded community banks out of tens of millions of dollars, they hid millions of dollars from the IRS, all while going on television to boast about how much they spend on designer clothes. And when they learned that they were under investigation for those crimes, they involved their own family members and friends to obstruct justice."
Will Chrisley Knows Best Continue?
It should come as no surprise that Chrisley Knows Best is, in fact, canceled. The series, which ran for nine seasons and 197 episodes, won't return for a 10th, despite receiving the greenlight before their charges surfaced. A Deadline report states the unscripted reality series, along with the spinoff focusing on children Chase and Savannah Chrisley titled Growing Up Chrisley, have all been axed by their respective networks.
Additionally, E! ordered a dating format series titled Love Limo, with Todd Chrisley set to host the show, though it's unsurprisingly been canceled. The ninth season of Chrisley Knows Best finished its run earlier this year in August, and that may be the last time fans see the family on the small screen for the foreseeable future.