Current:Home > MarketsWhere Todd Chrisley's Appeal Stands After Julie's Overturned Prison Sentence -Mastery Money Tools
Where Todd Chrisley's Appeal Stands After Julie's Overturned Prison Sentence
View
Date:2025-04-14 00:46:49
Todd Chrisley's conviction has been upheld.
Despite the fact that a three-judge panel on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his wife Julie Chrisley's sentencing, the panel did deny the couple's appeal for their tax evasion and bank fraud convictions.
Instead, per court documents obtained by E! News, the panel ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove Julie had been involved in the bank fraud scheme, which began in 2006, before 2007. It will be up to a lower court to determine how her sentencing will be adjusted per the new ruling. Todd's 12-year-sentence, which was reduced to 10 years in September, will not be affected.
Following the update in the case, the family's counsel told E! News, "We're pleased that the Court agreed that Julie's sentence was improper, but we're obviously disappointed that it rejected Todd's appeal."
"With this step behind us, we can now challenge the couple's convictions based on the illegal search that started the case," the statement continued, appearing to refer to the misconduct case the couple settled earlier this year. "The family appreciates the continued support they've received throughout this process. And they're hopeful for more good news in the future."
The court's decision to uphold the Chrisley's convictions, as well as that of their accountant Peter Tarantino's, comes six months after Julie and Todd received a $1 million settlement from the state of Georgia after they sued former special investigator Joshua Waites for misconduct in his handling of their investigation.
The settlement was awarded in January after a Sept. 2021 report from Atlanta's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) supported Todd's claim "he was unfairly targeted for investigation due to his 'celebrity status. In addition to finding assets seized from the Chrisley's home were missued, the report said Joshua's office filed an improper request with the U.S. Treasury Department to access the reality TV stars' bank accounts.
Yet despite settling their misconduct suit, in April Todd was ordered to pay Amy Doherty-Heinze—a former special agent with the Georgia Department of Revenue (GDOR)—a total of $755,000 from a separate defamation suit.
In 2021 Amy filed a defamation complaint, obtained by People, against the reality star alleging Todd "began attacking [her] and accusing her of a multitude of crimes and wrongdoing" in 2020 amid the GDOR's investigation into the couple.
Per the complaint, Todd "began a social media campaign against the GDOR and certain of its employees, contending that the investigation was illegal and improperly motivated." Amy said she was targeted in the social media campaign despite not being involved in the investigation.
Following the defamation verdict, Todd's attorney Leesa Guarnotta questioned the validity of Amy's claim on the principle of freedom of speech.
"We are concerned about the state of the First Amendment where such a case could make it to trial in the first place," she said in a statement to People at the time, adding that they are "pleased the jury recognized that some of Mr. Chrisley's statements were not defamatory and awarded the plaintiff a fourth of the damages she requested."
But despite the victories and setbacks Todd and Julie have experienced as they fight their convictions on charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States, their family isn't giving up hope on having the verdicts overturned.
Following the news of Julie's sentencing being overturned, Savannah Chrisley celebrated the update by sharing the court ruling to her June 24 Instagram Story alongside the raised hands emoji.
She captioned her post, "The fight never ends."
For more of the Growing Up Chrisley family's sweetest moments, keep reading.
Chrisley Knows Best stars Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley smiled for a professional photo together in 2016.
Todd and Julie were pictured along with Faye Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley and Grayson Chrisley ahead of season eight of their reality show.
The spouses attended the 2014 Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The pair hit the red carpet for the 2017 Academy Of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Lindsie Chrisley—whose parents are Todd and Teresa Terry—joined her dad, Savannah and Julie at the 2015 Concert For Love And Acceptance at City Winery Nashville.
Savannah and Chase snapped a pic together in 2019 for E! News' Daily Pop.
The couple appeared with granddaughter Chloe, who they adopted, on the "Build A Baby" episode in 2020.
Todd and Julie appeared with their daughter Savannah on Hollywood Game Night in 2018 for the "Chrisley's Believe It Or Not" episode.
The real estate mogul and his daughter were among the stars at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Todd and Julie kept their kids Savannah and Chase close at the 2015 NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Upfront in New York City.
Todd and Julie were spotted at the 2019 grand opening of E3 Chophouse Nashville in Nashville, Tenn.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (5252)
Related
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Israel forms unity government to oversee war sparked by Hamas attack
- Man pleads guilty to ambush that killed 2 officers and wounded 5 in South Carolina
- Barbieland: Watch Utah neighborhood transform into pink paradise for Halloween
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Gay and targeted in Uganda: Inside the extreme crackdown on LGBTQ rights
- Thursday marks 25 years since Matthew Shepard's death, but activists say LGBTQ+ rights are still at risk
- 7 elementary school students injured after North Carolina school bus veers off highway, hits building
- The 'Rebel Ridge' trailer is here: Get an exclusive first look at Netflix movie
- Israel's 'Ground Zero:' More than 100 civilians killed at the Be'eri Kibbutz
Ranking
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Visitors are scrambling to leave Israel and Gaza as the fighting rages
- Natalia Bryant Shares How She's Honoring Dad Kobe Bryant's Legacy With Mamba Mentality
- Castellanos hits 2 homers, powers Phillies past Braves 3-1 and into NLCS for 2nd straight season
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- U.S. inflation moderated in September, but is still too hot for Fed
- State Department announces plan to fly Americans out of Israel
- GOP Rep. Mike Lawler won't support Scalise and thinks McCarthy may yet return as speaker candidate — The Takeout
Recommendation
US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
17 Florida sheriff's office employees charged with COVID relief fraud: Feds
Thousands of autoworkers walk out at Ford's largest factory as UAW escalates strike
How years of war, rise in terrorism led to the current Israel-Hamas conflict: Experts
US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
Climate change sees IOC aim to choose hosts of 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics at same time next July
Gay and targeted in Uganda: Inside the extreme crackdown on LGBTQ rights
Colorado police officer convicted in 2019 death of Elijah McClain; ex-officer acquitted