Federal Judge Upholds Julie Chrisley’s 7-Year Sentence Amidst Resentencing Debate

A federal judge in Atlanta has decided to uphold reality television star Julie Chrisley‘s seven-year prison sentence. The ruling was made during a resentencing hearing on Wednesday morning in Fulton County, Georgia, as part of Chrisley’s ongoing legal battles involving tax evasion and fraud charges.

Julie Chrisley, known for her role in the television series “Chrisley Knows Best,” has already served 21 months of her sentence prior to the hearing. Her initial sentence was given following a conviction, alongside her husband Todd Chrisley, for defrauding banks around metro Atlanta to secure $36 million in loans and subsequently avoiding taxes on over $500,000.

The resentencing comes after the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit identified a legal error in the calculation of her original sentence. Though the error required a reassessment, prosecutors maintained that Chrisley’s sentence should remain unchanged at seven years. Despite her attorneys’ efforts to obtain a shorter sentence, the judge sided with the prosecution, ruling that Chrisley would serve 84 months in prison.

Julie Chrisley’s daughter, Savannah Chrisley, has been vocal about her parents’ plight, addressing the 2024 Republican National Convention and speaking about the conditions they face in prison. On her podcast, Savannah Chrisley expressed hope and fear surrounding her mother’s resentencing. “I hope and pray with everything that I have in me that this judge sends my mama home,” she said. “I’m in such a phase of life right now of just needing my mom. Trust me, I need my dad, too,” Savannah added.

Both Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty in 2022, alongside their accountant Peter Tarantino, of conspiracy to defraud banks and the IRS. The couple was accused of using fraudulent financial documents to secure loans, inflating their assets significantly. The court vacated Julie Chrisley’s sentence due to insufficient evidence of her involvement in losses predating 2007, but upheld the convictions for Todd Chrisley and Tarantino.

During the hearing, Julie Chrisley addressed the court, apologizing for her actions and the impact on her family. “I cannot ever repay my children for what they have had to go through, and for that I am sorry,” she stated.

As of the latest court ruling obtained by TODAY.com, Chrisley is scheduled for release on April 22, 2028, with five years of supervised release to follow her sentence. The legal journey for the Chrisley family has been ongoing since a 2019 investigation into Todd Chrisley’s unpaid state income taxes led to their indictment on multiple federal charges in Atlanta.