From Reality TV to Real Consequences: Inside the Chrisley Fraud Trial

Todd and Julie Chrisley, the flashy reality stars known for their sharp wit and lavish lifestyle on USA Network's "Chrisley Knows Best," became household names thanks to their unconventional parenting style and high-end living. But behind the scenes, prosecutors say the picture-perfect couple was allegedly constructing a financial empire on lies — and a federal court agreed.

Here's everything you need to know about the $30 million fraud trial that ended with prison sentences, a presidential pardon, and a story stranger than fiction.

The Rise of the Chrisleys

Before legal drama dominated the headlines, Todd and Julie Chrisley were best known for their roles on the reality TV show "Chrisley Knows Best," which debuted in 2014 and ran until 2022. The show chronicled their lives as wealthy real estate moguls raising five children in the South — and it eventually spawned a spinoff, "Growing Up Chrisley," focusing on their children Chase and Savannah.

Todd even developed a dating show called "Love Limo," though it never aired due to his mounting legal troubles. In 2025, just before the couple was granted clemency, Lifetime approved a new reality show for the family.

The Charges: Fraud and Tax Evasion

In August 2019, the Chrisleys were indicted by a federal grand jury on 12 counts, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Prosecutors accused them of evading nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016, and hiding income from the IRS by funneling reality TV profits through their production company, 7 C Production.

They pleaded not guilty and claimed a former employee, Mark Braddock, was behind the scheme. Despite that defense, the charges stuck, and their case moved forward.

What Happened in Court

The trial began on May 16, 2022, in Atlanta, and lasted nearly three weeks. According to PEOPLE, Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters alleged in her opening statement that the couple faked financial documents to secure over $30 million in loans, which they used to fund their lifestyle while hiding income from the IRS.

Todd's attorney blamed Braddock, who had been fired in 2012, for impersonating him. Even so, the prosecution argued the Chrisleys continued fraudulent activity long after Braddock was gone. Their accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also charged with conspiracy and filing false tax returns. His defense claimed he was simply overwhelmed and unqualified, having failed the CPA exam many times.

Convictions and Sentencing

On June 7, 2022, a Georgia federal court found Todd and Julie Chrisley guilty on all counts — including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax fraud. Julie was also convicted of wire fraud.

According to The New York Times, the Justice Department said the couple defrauded banks out of over $36 million in loans by submitting false statements and then used new fraudulent loans to repay old ones. After spending the money, Todd filed for bankruptcy.

They also allegedly worked with Tarantino to avoid paying $500,000 in back taxes, opening accounts in Julie's name and later transferring them to a relative to hide income from the IRS.

The sentencing came in November 2022. Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to seven. Tarantino received three years. The couple began their sentences in January 2023 — Todd in Florida's Federal Prison Camp Pensacola, and Julie at a federal medical facility in Kentucky.

Life Behind Bars

While incarcerated, the Chrisleys had no contact with each other. In February 2025, their daughter Savannah told PEOPLE they hadn't spoken in two years and that the separation was extremely difficult for them after nearly three decades together.

A Presidential Pardon

On May 27, 2025, former President Donald Trump granted the couple a full pardon. According to The New York Times, Trump told Savannah Chrisley during a phone call, "Your parents are going to be free and clean." He added, "I don't know them, but give them my regards and wish them a good life."

The White House's announcement stated the pardon was an example of correcting what Trump described as the "political weaponization of the justice system." According to The New York Times, the Chrisleys' lawyer, Alex Little, called the decision one that "restores two devoted parents to their family and community."

By that evening, both Todd and Julie had been released from prison and were heading home to Nashville.

In a statement following his release, Todd said he was grateful to be reunited with his family, calling it "overwhelming" and adding that he was thankful they could "share a meal together, to pray together, and to know that we're still in the fight together," according to PEOPLE.

A Family Still in the Spotlight

Despite the scandal, the Chrisleys continue to remain in the public eye. With a new reality show already in the works and growing public interest, it's clear their story — filled with twists, controversy, and a dramatic presidential twist — is far from over.

References: Everything to Know About the $30 Million Fraud Trial Against Todd and Julie Chrisley | Trump Pardons Reality-Show Couple Convicted of $36 Million Fraud