Todd and Julie Chrisley, the husband-and-wife duo who constructed a actuality TV empire round their extravagant Southern way of life, are as soon as once more within the highlight. Earlier at present, President Donald Trump introduced plans to pardon the couple, who have been convicted in 2022 of defrauding banks out of greater than $30 million by means of falsified mortgage functions and evading taxes whereas publicly flaunting their wealth on USA Community’s “Chrisley Is aware of Greatest.” Trump, in a name with their daughter Savannah, mentioned he hoped the couple can be “free and clear” by tomorrow.
The information has immediately reignited curiosity in one of many extra brazen fraud instances in latest superstar historical past. For years, the Chrisleys portrayed themselves as the image of Southern success: designer garments, non-public jets, luxurious automobiles, sprawling houses, and a family-centric model that masked a home of playing cards. Behind the scenes, federal prosecutors mentioned the couple lived far past their means, utilizing bogus paperwork to safe huge loans after which hiding earnings to keep away from paying taxes.
Their convictions despatched Todd to federal jail for 12 years and Julie for 7, together with a $17.8 million restitution order. Now, with Trump’s intervention, that chapter could also be closing. However the saga of how the Chrisleys rose, fell, and have been immediately redeemed by a presidential pardon is much from over.
Who Are the Chrisleys?
Earlier than their actuality TV fame, Todd Chrisley made a reputation for himself in Georgia actual property by means of an organization referred to as Chrisley Asset Administration, which claimed to specialise in foreclosed properties. He cultivated a picture of immense wealth and sharp enterprise acumen. Julie Chrisley, usually portrayed because the softer counterpart, was forged because the supportive spouse and mom serving to run the family and enterprise ventures.
Their lives modified in 2014 when “Chrisley Is aware of Greatest” premiered on USA Community. The present adopted Todd, Julie, and their kids as they navigated household life in a lavish Southern setting, with Todd’s over-the-top character driving a lot of the drama and humor. The collection was a shock hit, spawning a number of spin-offs and a loyal fanbase. The Chrisleys grew to become identified for his or her witty banter, extravagant way of life, and seemingly close-knit household dynamics.
However the wealth viewers noticed on display screen didn’t mirror monetary stability behind the scenes.
The Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors alleged that starting round 2006, the Chrisleys conspired with a former enterprise associate to submit pretend paperwork to banks in an effort to get hold of greater than $30 million in fraudulent loans. The paperwork included inflated account balances, falsified audit studies, and bogus monetary statements.
As only one instance, in November 2007, Todd and Julie confirmed a financial institution a fabricated monetary assertion. From their indictment:
“When the financial institution worker requested account statements, Co-conspirator A [an employee apparently working for the Chrisleys] despatched Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley a fabricated financial institution assertion exhibiting that Todd and Julie Chrisley had $776,509.52 on deposit at Merrill Lynch.
In response, Todd Chrisley informed his co-conspirator, ‘you’re a f****** genious [sic]!!! Simply make it present 4 mil+”
In actuality, the couple didn’t have a Merrill Lynch checking account at the moment. After they did have one a 12 months later, it by no means contained greater than $17,000.
Moreover, Todd and Julie additionally allegedly dodged federal tax payments.
They used the cash to fund a lavish way of life that included luxurious automobiles, designer wardrobes, and multimillion-dollar houses. When one set of loans got here due, they allegedly utilized for brand spanking new fraudulent loans to repay the outdated ones, making a cycle of deception.
In line with the DOJ:
“The Chrisleys spent the cash on luxurious automobiles, designer garments, actual property, and journey, and used new fraudulent loans to pay again outdated ones. After spending all the cash, Todd Chrisley filed for chapter and walked away from greater than $20 million of the fraudulently obtained loans.”
On the identical time, prosecutors mentioned the couple hid earnings from “Chrisley Is aware of Greatest” and different ventures by directing cash into a company account beneath Julie’s title. That account was used to fund private spending whereas they did not file or pay earnings taxes for a number of years. In 2012, Todd filed for chapter and walked away from greater than $20 million in debt, which prosecutors mentioned had been fraudulently obtained within the first place.
(Picture by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Conviction and Sentencing
After a three-week trial in federal court docket in Atlanta, the Chrisleys have been convicted in June 2022. The jury discovered them responsible of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, conspiracy to defraud the USA, and a number of counts of wire fraud and tax evasion. Julie was additionally convicted of obstruction of justice for allegedly submitting a false doc to federal investigators.
In November 2022, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in jail and Julie to 7 years. The couple was additionally ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution. They have been despatched to separate prisons, and their daughter, Savannah, took custody of her youthful siblings.
At sentencing, prosecutors described Todd and Julie as such:
“The Chrisleys have constructed an empire primarily based on the lie that their wealth got here from dedication and arduous work. The jury’s unanimous verdict units the report straight: Todd and Julie Chrisley are profession swindlers who’ve made a residing by leaping from one fraud scheme to a different, mendacity to banks, stiffing distributors, and evading taxes at each nook.”
In 2023, a federal appeals court docket upheld the convictions however discovered that the trial choose might have erred in calculating Julie’s sentence. Her case was despatched again to a decrease court docket for resentencing, however her responsible verdict remained in place.
Trump’s Pardon
On Might 27, 2025, Trump introduced that he supposed to pardon Todd and Julie Chrisley, describing their therapy as unfair and overly harsh. In a name with Savannah Chrisley that was posted on-line by a White Home aide, Trump mentioned, “Your dad and mom are going to be free and clear.”
The Chrisleys’ lawyer referred to as the pardon a correction of “a deep injustice” and argued that they have been focused for his or her excessive profile and conservative views. The pardon comes amid a broader sample of Trump utilizing his clemency powers to assist political allies, celebrities, and controversial figures who echo his criticisms of the justice system.
Savannah Chrisley had beforehand spoken about her dad and mom’ imprisonment on the 2024 Republican Nationwide Conference, claiming they have been “persecuted by rogue prosecutors” and quoting a prosecutor who allegedly referred to the household as “the Trumps of the South.”
Had they not been pardoned, Todd Chrisley would have remained in jail till 2034, whereas Julie Chrisley was scheduled for launch in 2030. The presidential pardon clears their prison convictions and ends their jail phrases, but it surely doesn’t erase the $17.8 million in court-ordered restitution. That monetary obligation to the banks they defrauded stays in place except individually waived, which has not been indicated. Now, with their authorized information cleaned and their freedom restored, the Chrisleys could also be on the verge of rebuilding their lives. Whether or not that features a return to tv stays to be seen. However the story of how they lived, misplaced, and have been rescued from jail by a former president is a actuality plot twist that even their present could not have scripted higher.