Julie Chrisley’s Sentence Overturned by Appeals Court, New Sentencing Pending

Julie Chrisley, former star of the reality series Chrisley Knows Best, is set to see a change in her legal fate as the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned her original seven-year sentence. The decision came after a three-judge panel determined that a trial judge had incorrectly calculated Chrisley’s sentence by holding her fully accountable for the bank fraud scheme that she was convicted of alongside her husband, Todd.

The original convictions stemmed from allegations that the Chrisleys conspired to defraud banks of over $30 million. Prosecutors claimed the couple utilized falsified documents to acquire fraudulent loans, subsequently taking out additional fraudulent loans to cover the previous ones. In addition to bank fraud, the Chrisleys were also convicted of tax evasion, with accusations that they neglected over $20 million in debt after Todd declared bankruptcy in 2012.

Todd was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Julie received a seven-year sentence. The couple’s accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also handed a three-year sentence for his involvement in the fraudulent scheme. Along with the prison terms, the Chrisleys were ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution.

During the appeals process, the Chrisleys’ legal team raised multiple arguments, including claims of false testimony by an IRS officer regarding outstanding taxes and assertions of insufficient evidence to prove tax evasion and conspiracy charges against Julie. While the appeals court largely upheld the convictions, it acknowledged a lack of evidence linking Julie to the bank fraud scheme as early as 2006, presenting a narrow issue for reconsideration.

The appeals court ruling stated, “We must vacate Julie’s sentence so the district court can address the narrow issue of what the proper loss amount attributable to Julie is,” leaving the timeline for Julie’s resentencing uncertain. Alex Little, a representative for the Chrisleys, expressed a mix of relief and disappointment over the decision, emphasizing hopes for further positive developments in the ongoing legal battle.

As the legal proceedings continue, the Chrisley family remains entrenched in the effort to navigate the complex repercussions of the convictions. Amongst the high-profile individuals involved, Julie’s daughter Savannah Chrisley recently provided insight into the family’s perspective on the latest developments, as reported by The Associated Press.