Todd and Julie Chrisley have received a $1 million settlement from the state of Georgia after alleging misconduct in the investigation into their bank fraud and tax evasion scheme.
The reality TV couple was found guilty in federal court in June 2022 of tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million. Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to seven years, both with a 16-month suspended sentence.
The two, known for their hit show “Chrisley Knows Best,” had their prison sentences reduced. Julie will serve five and a half years at Lexington Federal Medical Center in Kentucky. Todd will serve a 10-year sentence at a federal prison in Pensacola, Florida.
The Chrisleys had previously been acquitted of federal tax evasion charges and in 2019 took legal action against Joshua Waites, the Georgia Department of Revenue's former director of special investigations, for “targeting their family.”
The couple's attorney announced Tuesday that they had reached a settlement with the state, which he called an “encouraging sign” for the Chrisleys in a statement.
Todd and Julie Chrisley (pictured together in 2019) have received a $1 million settlement from the state of Georgia after alleging misconduct in the investigation into their bank fraud and tax evasion scheme
Todd and Julie Chrisley were famous for their hit show Chrisley Knows Best. They are pictured with their family in a promo for the show's eighth season. Left to right: Faye Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley, Julie Chrisley and Grayson Chrisley
The Chrisleys had previously been acquitted of federal tax evasion charges and in 2019 took action against Joshua Waites (pictured), the former director of special investigations at Georgia's Treasury Department, for “specifically targeting their family.”
The Chrisleys and their lawyers claimed for months that Georgia's criminal case against them was “highly unusual and had real problems.”
Alex Little of Burr & Forman LLP hailed the couple's latest legal victory, saying in the statement: “It is nearly unprecedented that one arm of the government is paying money to defendants while another arm fights to keep them in prison.”
The Chrisleys filed a lawsuit against Waites in October 2019, accusing him of illegally sharing confidential grand jury and tax information with their estranged daughter Lindsie.
The lawsuit also alleged that Waites' conduct was “shocking” evidence of how an “out-of-control public official” can abuse his office and violate the rights of innocent citizens for reasons that have more to do with advertising and to secure money for his office rather than with enforcing the law.
The couple's lawsuit against Waites argued that while Waites' efforts “failed,” the lawsuit forced the Chrisleys to “incur significant personal and financial hardship.”
An investigation in 2021 also found that the couple were “unfairly targeted” in their tax evasion case due to their celebrity status.
Christopher S. Anulewicz, an attorney for the couple, said in a statement at the time that the Georgia Department of Revenue “used illicit means to gather information about them.”
Much of the corruption stemmed from the actions of Waites, who resigned from his $107,000-a-year post last year after lying about having a degree in criminal justice.
The investigation uncovered images of the investigator posing on Todd and Julie's confiscated furniture and making an improper request to the U.S. Treasury Department to access their bank accounts.
The couple (pictured here after a trial in 2019) were found guilty of participating in a $30 million tax fraud scheme and sentenced to twelve and seven years in prison, respectively. Their sentences were reduced in September last year
Todd and Julie pictured with Savannah and their niece Chloe and brother Grayson, of whom they are both guardians
Although the Chrisleys were acquitted by the state of their tax evasion charges, a federal grand jury indicted them in 2019 on 12 counts of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion – all of which they deny.
Todd and Julie began their sentences in January 2023. Their sentences were then reduced in September last year.
The couple has appealed their criminal conviction, which will be heard in federal appeals court in Atlanta this April, according to their attorney.
Web has contacted Little and Burr & Forman LLP for comment.
News of the settlement comes just months after sources close to the couple claimed that Julie may soon end her 27-year marriage to Todd because she convinced her to follow his “foolproof plan” – which she ultimately did put both behind bars.
Julie is reportedly questioning her marriage to 54-year-old Todd, who insiders said was convinced they would “never go to prison.”
“Julie's friends are sure she will eventually divorce Todd because he convinced her to follow his foolproof plan that landed her in prison,” a source close to the fallen reality TV couple said in November last year to .
Todd reportedly felt “massively betrayed by the U.S. government” after speaking out about the prison's alleged inhumane conditions, which reportedly include a lack of air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter, as well as mold, plumbing problems and insects Infestations and even snakes.
News of the settlement comes just months after sources close to the couple claimed that Julie could soon end her 27-year marriage to Todd. Julie Chrisley (left) and Todd Chrisley (right) are pictured during a visit to Hallmark's Home & Family at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 18, 2018 in Universal City, California
“He’s hopeless and completely broken,” the source said of the real estate tycoon. “He spends his days in isolation because many prisoners don’t like him because he chatted about prison conditions.”
“Todd preaches to anyone who will listen.” But he only makes the situation worse for himself. No matter what he does, he’ll be stuck in prison for the next decade.”
Julie was also said to have “broken down” behind bars as she was consumed by remorse over the role she played in the fraudulent scheme.
“She collapsed. “She is not doing well at all,” another source previously told . “She cannot imagine how she will be locked up for years and feels she has failed her family.”
The insider added that Julie “regrets what she did in the name of fame.”