Todd Chrisley and his wife, Julie Chrisley, famous for their television reality series Todd and his family have starred on Chrisley Knows Best since 2014. The show has been successful, so much so that it and its spin-off series, Growing Up Chrisley, were renewed for another season.
However, despite the family's success on television, they have been in a legal battle since 2019, when Todd and Julie were indicted on 12 counts of bank and wire fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion. However, Todd denied the charges in a lengthy statement and alleged that his former employee Mark Braddock wanted to get revenge on him and his wife. However, Todd's claims did not stop the case from proceeding, and new charges were filed against him and Julie in February 2022. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters told the court that Todd and Julie obtained over $30 million in loans by allegedly lying about their earnings and wealth. He also alleged that the couple made up documents and lied to get what they wanted before adding that they hid funds from the IRS.
Since Todd and Julie's legal battles began, many of their fans have expressed concerns about them, hoping they could come out of it unscathed. However, this may not be the case with recent developments. On June 7, the jury reached its verdict in Todd and Julie's case and found the couple guilty on all counts. The couple's ant, Peter Tarantino, was also found guilty on similar charges, including aiding and abetting them to file fake tax returns. Todd and Chrisley have yet to be sentenced, as the sentencing will take place on a yet-to-be-disclosed date. However, the couple faces up to 30 years of imprisonment and will remain in home detention until their sentencing. Meanwhile, their lawyer, Bruce Morris, told TMZ, "We are disappointed in the verdict. We plan an appeal."
The jury's verdict is coming a few weeks after Mark alleged that Todd cheated on Julie with him. Mark claimed he and Todd had an affair and paid off a blackmailer to keep it a secret. Mark made the allegations while testifying in Todd's fraud trial. He said they were intimate for about a year in the early 2000's. However, after the relationship ended, they remained friends until 2012. Mark worked in Todd's company, Chrisley Asset Management, a foreclosure firm. While working there, they received anonymous texts threatening to expose them for fraud and their relationship. However, Bruce countered Mark's allegations by saying he was obsessed with Todd and wanted to be with him. In Bruce's closing statement, he suggested to the jury that Mark was the very picture of reasonable doubt.
With the jury reaching its verdict, Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie now know what they are up against. However, their lawyer's vow to appeal the verdict may give them some hope of coming out of the dilemma with their hands clean. The celebrity couple has done well in managing their businesses and reality television shows since their indictment in 2019, but the jury's unfavorable verdict will surely trouble them. Todd and Julie have always maintained their innocence and still have hopes of proving it with an appeal. However, if they are unsuccessful with that, they will be praying for a favorable sentence when the sentencing hearing eventually takes place.
Chrisley Knows Best returns June 23 at 9 p.m. EDT on USA.
Source: TMZ