Everything to Know About the $30 Million Fraud Trial Against Todd and Julie Chrisley

A verdict was reached in the federal trial of Todd and Julie Chrisley.

After a nearly three-week-long trial, the couple — known for their USA Network reality show Chrisley Knows Best — were found guilty on all counts in a federal court in Georgia, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Julie was also convicted of wire fraud.

The Chrisleys were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019 for 12 counts of bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy, all of which they have denied.

The reality stars began their prison sentences on Jan. 17, 2023. Todd will be released on Jan. 22, 2033, from the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola. As for Julie, she will be released from the Federal Correctional Institution Marianna on Oct. 19, 2028. Their original sentences, which were 12 years and seven years, respectively, were reduced in September 2023.

In July 2023, Savannah Chrisley revealed that her family hired a new legal team to appeal Todd and Julie’s case.

Keep scrolling for everything to know about the Chrisley family trial.

Who are Todd and Julie Chrisley?

Todd and Julie are the married stars of the eponymous reality series Chrisley Knows Best, which centers around patriarch Todd and his “brutally honest” parenting style towards his five children — Lindsie, Kyle, Chase, Savannah and Grayson. The show premiered on USA Network in 2014 and ended in 2023. The family drama spawned a docuseries titled Growing Up Chrisley that follows the lives of Chase and Savannah as they enter adulthood.

In addition, Todd hosted and executive produced a speed-dating, match-making series titled Love Limo.

In August 2023, PEOPLE confirmed that the Chrisley family is teaming up with Scout Productions for a new reality series. The untitled program will document the family’s legal troubles as well as Todd and Julie’s prison sentences.

What were Todd and Julie Chrisley indicted for in 2019?

Todd and Julie were indicted on 12 counts of bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy in August 2019 after being accused of evading nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016.

Prosecutors also claimed they used their production company, 7 C Production, to hide over $1 million dollar’s worth of their reality TV income from the IRS, and alleged that Todd directed an employee to falsify income and asset documents. The Chrisleys turned themselves in and pleaded not guilty to the charges at the time.

That October 2019, the Georgia Department of Revenue cleared them of their state tax evasion charge, agreeing that the Chrisley Knows Best stars had overpaid four of those years and owed nothing for the other four. In total, they had a net liability of less than $77,000 in overdue taxes for just one year of incorrect filing.

Why were Todd and Julie Chrisley on trial?

Although the Georgia Department of Revenue signed a settlement agreement that ended a two-year investigation into the couple’s alleged state tax liabilities, per a press release shared with PEOPLE at the time, Todd and Julie continued to face federal charges for allegedly evading federal taxes during those same years.

“Both face one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of tax fraud. Julie Chrisley faces additional counts of wire fraud and obstruction of justice,” FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

The Chrisleys’ accountant, Peter Tarantino, was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of willfully filing false tax returns.

When did Todd and Julie Chrisley’s trial begin?

Jury selection for Todd and Julie Chrisley’s trial began on May 16, 2022, per The Tennessean. The trial lasted nearly three weeks in Atlanta.

What was said during the Chrisley trial opening statements?

On May 17, 2022, Assistant US Attorney Annalise Peters gave her opening statement, claiming that Todd and Julie submitted false documents exaggerating their wealth to banks to borrow over $30 million that they “burned” on their affluent lifestyle while additionally hiding money from the IRS.

“They made up documents and they lie through their teeth to get whatever they want, whenever they want it,” Peters told the jury, per Insider.

Todd Chrisley’s attorney, Bruce H. Morris, blamed the couple’s former employee, Mark Braddock, for impersonating Todd and committing the fraud behind the couple’s back, reportedly turning on them after he was fired in 2012. Despite Peters deeming Braddock a “fraudster,” she noted that the couple continued the act even after ties with him were cut.

Accountant Tarantino’s attorney said that his client was “in over his head” and unqualified to handle the Chrisleys’ finances — noting that he “failed the CPA exam many times over 20 years,” the outlet reported. Regardless of his lack of qualifications, the attorney noted that Tarantino is not a criminal.

What punishment were Todd and Julie Chrisley facing?

When the Chrisleys were first indicted in 2019, PEOPLE spoke with tax attorney Dawn Delia who explained the consequences the couple could face if convicted of the alleged crimes.

At the time, Delia explained that if the case does go to trial and the jury rules in favor of the government, “the IRS can grab everything that they have to fulfill the debt.” She noted that “the IRS moves [the charges] from administrative to criminal when it’s a very serious case,” which is what they are facing.

She added that “if it does come out that the jury agrees,” Todd and Julie could “could face up to five years in prison for tax evasion” and possibly even more.

What was Todd and Julie Chrisley’s trial verdict?

After a nearly three-week-long trial, Todd and Julie were convicted on all counts in a federal court in Georgia on June 7, 2022.

They were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Julie was also convicted of wire fraud.

According to Insider, the pair’s former lawyer Peter Tarantino was also found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns.

The couple filed a motion for bail but it was denied on Jan. 11, 2023. The court also denied their request to push back their surrender date by 21 days.

What is Todd and Julie Chrisley’s sentence?

A federal judge sentenced the Chrisley couple on Nov. 21, 2022, with Todd receiving 12 years in prison and 16 months probation, while Julie received seven years in prison plus 16 months probation, according to Insider and Fox 5 Atlanta.

The Chrisleys began their prison sentences on Jan. 17, 2023. Both Julie and Todd are serving their time at Florida correctional facilities, roughly two and a half hours away from each other.

In September 2023, the couple’s prison sentences were reduced. Todd will now be released on Jan. 22, 2033, and Julie will be released on Oct. 19, 2028.

Tarantino was also sentenced to 36 months in prison, per Insider. The couple’s former accountant reported to prison on May 1, 2023, after undergoing hip surgery, per the outlet.

Where are Todd and Julie Chrisley serving their sentence?

On Jan. 17, 2023, Todd reported to Federal Correctional Institution (FPI) Pensacola in Florida, while Julie began her sentence at a different federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky. She was later transferred to Florida’s Federal Correctional Institution Marianna.

A rumored documentary on the family is in the works

In July 2023, Savannah said she and her relatives wouldn’t be involved in a rumored documentary about her family, explaining that any project on her parent’s fraud trial wouldn’t be “accurate.”

In an Instagram Story, the reality star revealed, “Chase [Chrisley] and I were very much against a documentary happening because the truth just wasn’t behind it. And from day one, I have said, no, no, no, no. I was not cooperating, nor were the kids or Chase.”

“Any documentary that does happen is all based off of lies because, at the end of the day, mom and dad aren’t involved, how do you get the full truth?” she added. “They should be able to share their side of any story that’s being told. And me, as their power of attorney, I, obviously, know the truth. And that is what it is.”

Lindsie also spoke out against the documentary on an episode of Southern Tea with Lindsie Chrisley.

“[It’s] not really worth my time and also not fair to people … they would be documenting about people who can’t potentially defend themselves in the event that they would need to defend themselves,” she said of her parents.