A federal appeals court dismissed reality TV star Julie Chrisley’s prison sentence for bank fraud and tax evasion, ordering a lower court to recalculate her sentence. In addition to the Chrisleys, their accountant, Peter Tarantino, also stood trial and was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the U.S.
government and falsification of tax documents relating to the couple. Todd Chrisley’s appeal was rejected by the court. According to one of the couple’s attorneys, Alex Little, the Chrisley family is nonetheless “hopeful for more good news in the future.
” “We’re pleased that the Court agreed that Julie’s sentence was improper, but we’re obviously disappointed that it rejected Todd’s appeal,” Mr. Little stated. During the trial, prosecutors accused the Chrisleys of submitting false documents to banks in the Atlanta area to obtain fraudulent loans.
The loans were then used to fund a lavish lifestyle, including luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate, and travel. New loans were then taken out to pay off old ones before Mr. Chrisley filed for bankruptcy, leaving more than $20 million in unpaid loans, the prosecution stated.
Mr. Tarantino’s lawyer argued that the accountant suffered reputational harm as a result of the joint trial with the Chrisleys. Regardless, a subsequent request for a retrial was denied.
The only error found by the three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals related to the trial judge holding Ms.
Chrisley solely responsibl.