The mugshot is a far cry from the polished reality TV persona. In it, 28-year-old Chase Chrisley’s eyes meet the camera with a mix of defiance and regret, a Fulton County Sheriff’s Office badge visible in the corner. It’s a stark portrait of the eldest Chrisley son’s unraveling – from reality TV fame to a rap sheet. (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight)
Chase Chrisley, once the cherubic son on USA Network’s Chrisley Knows Best, now finds himself entangled in legal and financial controversies that read like a true crime saga. From reported scams and unpaid taxes to a revoked real estate license and a recent arrest for assault, the son of convicted fraudsters Todd and Julie Chrisley appears to be following a dangerous family tradition. This investigative piece dives deep into Chase Chrisley’s trail of trouble, contrasting his misdeeds with those of his infamous parents, and highlighting expert insights into the crimes and cons at play.
From Reality TV Royalty to Repute in Ruin
Chase rose to fame as part of the Chrisley family, a Southern clan that flaunted wealth and wholesome values on Chrisley Knows Best. The show aired for 10 seasons (2014–2023), chronicling the lavish lifestyle of patriarch Todd Chrisley – a self-proclaimed real estate tycoon – and his wife Julie and children (MUGSHOT: Chase Chrisley arrested after bar fight in Atlanta – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta). But behind the reality TV facade, financial rot festered. In 2022, Todd and Julie were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion, with Todd sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to 7 years (MUGSHOT: Chase Chrisley arrested after bar fight in Atlanta – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta). The couple had defrauded banks out of tens of millions of dollars and dodged the IRS, behavior a federal prosecutor described as “defrauding the American tax system” for personal gain ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice) ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice). As U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan put it, “over the course of a decade, the defendants defrauded banks out of tens of millions…their lengthy sentences reflect the magnitude of their criminal scheme” ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice).
That very same week in August 2019 when Todd and Julie were indicted on 12 counts, another Chrisley made headlines for financial wrongdoing: Chase Chrisley was hit with a federal tax lien. Documents revealed the then-23-year-old owed $16,886 in unpaid taxes from 2014, having “refused” to pay the IRS on income he earned that year (Todd Chrisley’s son Chase hit with $17G tax lien amid parents’ tax evasion indictment | Fox News). The lien warned that if he didn’t pay up, the government could seize his assets (Todd Chrisley’s son Chase hit with $17G tax lien amid parents’ tax evasion indictment | Fox News). In essence, teenage Chase – who had started earning money from the family’s TV success – failed to pay his dues, echoing the very tax evasion that would soon land his parents in federal court. It’s a small sum compared to the $36 million bank fraud at the heart of his parents’ case ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice), but it painted a worrying picture: the apple might not fall far from the tree. “Honest and law-abiding taxpayers are fed up with the likes of those who use deceit and fraud to line their pockets at their expense,” an IRS investigator said of the Chrisley family’s schemes ( Northern District of Georgia | Federal grand jury indicts Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie Chrisley | United States Department of Justice). Chase’s tax dodge may have been minor league, but it was enough for the IRS to put him on notice.
Financial Follies: Tax Woes and Questionable Ventures
Chase eventually resolved that 2014 tax bill (with a deadline to pay by 2026 per reports) (Todd & Julie Chrisley Indicted for Tax Evasion, Financial Crimes | The Daily Dish) (Todd & Julie Chrisley Indicted for Tax Evasion, Financial Crimes | The Daily Dish), but money problems continued to dog him. In the ensuing years, as his parents fought charges, Chase ventured into business – with mixed results. He launched the Chase Chrisley Collection, a line of luxury scented candles (yes, candles) that he hawked for about $35 a piece. For a time, the candles sold modestly. However, by 2023 the site often showed items “Sold out” and fans speculated that the venture had stagnated (How Does Chase Chrisley Make Money?) (How Does Chase Chrisley Make Money?). Some cynical observers even joked that Chase’s true career was the family “grifting” business – “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, as one commenter quipped, alluding to a Ponzi-like shuffling of funds (How Does Chase Chrisley Make Money?).
More troubling were allegations that Chase began promoting dubious schemes on social media. In late 2023, users on a Reddit forum dedicated to the Chrisley family’s misdeeds noticed an Instagram post in which Chase plugged what they believed to be a scam. “Chase is now promoting scams. His candle business is dead,” one user wrote bluntly, sharing the Instagram evidence (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison). The Chrisley name, once an asset, had become a liability. “USA [Network] told them to distance themselves from their parents’ crimes. They didn’t listen. Now the Chrisley name is associated with fraud. I wouldn’t spend a dime,” another Redditor remarked, reflecting a common sentiment that any product bearing the family name is suspect (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison).
Indeed, the Chrisleys have a track record of business ventures gone bad. A particularly telling anecdote resurfaced about The Chrisley Box, a subscription kit of goodies that Julie and Chase’s sister Savannah had marketed to fans. Customers paid for quarterly boxes “curated by Julie & Savannah” (The Chrisley Box (@thechrisleyboxofficial) – Instagram)—only many never received anything. “SO many people were scammed,”a Reddit commenter recalled (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison), describing how buyers waited months for boxes that never arrived. When pressed on his podcast, Todd Chrisley told an angry customer to dispute the charge with her credit card – blaming a third-party vendor and offering no apology (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison). No refunds, no explanations; the promotion simply vanished, along with the money. “They did nothing!” the commenter concluded, outraged at the lack of accountability (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison). While Chase wasn’t the ringleader of the Chrisley Box fiasco, it exemplified the culture of grift in which he was raised – a family business built on false promises and other people’s money.
Financially, Chase had tried to distance himself from the chaos by pursuing a more traditional path: real estate. On the show, Todd often bragged of his fortune made in Georgia real estate, and he encouraged his children to get licensed. In 2019, in an early season of the spin-off Growing Up Chrisley, viewers saw Chase “put in all the work to get his real estate license” (‘Growing Up Chrisley’: Brand New Trailer for Spinoff with Chase and Savannah Chrisley Released | Soap Dirt). At just 22, Chase became a licensed real estate agent in Nashville, Tennessee, presumably hoping to follow in dad’s entrepreneurial footsteps. Todd, ever the skeptic, snarked that he looked forward to “eating in the restaurant that Chase is gonna be working in”, even joking that the only thing waiting in L.A. for Chase and Savannah was “jail” (‘Growing Up Chrisley’: Brand New Trailer for Spinoff with Chase and Savannah Chrisley Released | Soap Dirt). That dark joke now feels like foreshadowing.
Chase’s foray into real estate proved short-lived. By 2024, records indicated that his Tennessee real estate license had lapsed – effectively revoked due to inactivity. Fan sleuths discovered via a state database that Chase’s license status was expired, meaning he hadn’t renewed it within the required period (Ground News). In Tennessee, like many states, a real estate license must be renewed every two years with continuing education; failure to do so renders the license inactive. “If your license is expired, you cannot practice real estate – it’s illegal,” warns real estate law expert Hank Lerner (So You Didn’t Renew Your Real Estate License – Pennsylvania Association of Realtors®). An expired license isn’t merely a bureaucratic hiccup – it’s a dead end. Chase would have to reapply or petition the Real Estate Commission to regain the ability to broker property deals. For all intents and purposes, his “license to sell” was lost. There is no evidence Chase ever sold a single house. If real estate was meant to be a respectable plan B after reality TV, he let that slip away too.
Barroom Brawl in Buckhead: The Battery Arrest
Chase’s most alarming turn came on the night of January 6, 2025, when a drunken outing exploded into an alleged assault. It was a Monday at Twin Peaks, a sports bar in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead district. According to the bar’s general manager, Chase Chrisley became belligerently intoxicated, to the point of being “very disrespectful and belligerent” toward staff (MUGSHOT: Chase Chrisley arrested after bar fight in Atlanta – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta). The manager, a man named Brendon Nash, repeatedly asked the reality star to leave. Instead, Chase allegedly lashed out – slapping the manager in the face twice when he tried to intervene (MUGSHOT: Chase Chrisley arrested after bar fight in Atlanta – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta). Nash phoned 911 as the situation escalated. In the recorded call, he can be heard urgently telling a combative patron (reportedly Chase) “not to touch” him, and at one point claims the patron “assaulted him with a chair” (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight). Moments later, the manager tells the dispatcher the patron “just slapped him,” an outburst audible in the background of the call (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight). By the time police arrived, the assailant had left the scene (Chase Chrisley Arrested for Alleged Simple Battery After Being Named a Suspect in Bar Assault).
Three days later, on January 9, Atlanta police obtained a warrant and arrested Chase Chrisley for simple battery. He turned himself in at the Fulton County Jail, was booked, and posed for a mugshot before being released on a $10,000 bond (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight) (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight). The charge – simple battery (misdemeanor) – might sound minor, but it carries weight under Georgia law. “The penalty if found guilty of simple battery is a misdemeanor… [with] confinement of up to one year and a fine up to $1,000,” note Georgia criminal attorneys Lawson and Berry (Simple Battery | Georgia Criminal Lawyer). In other words, Chase faces the possibility of jail time if convicted.
Chase’s attorneys were quick to go on the offensive, denying the allegations in full. Noted Atlanta defense lawyer Drew Findling (who, ironically, has represented rapper Cardi B and once even Todd Chrisley) issued a statement with his team calling the incident a misunderstanding. “This incident has been entirely blown out of proportion,” Findling told TMZ, insisting that Chase did not assault anyone and was actually trying to do “the right thing” by calling a ride to take him home (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight). According to the defense, Chase was simply attempting to close out his bar tab when an argument ensued, and he “did not assault anyone” (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight). They vowed an independent investigation to clear his name.
Yet the police report, and the bar manager’s account, suggest a more violent narrative. It wouldn’t be the first time alcohol and fame proved a volatile mix. The incident has shades of entitlement: a young reality star who “won’t leave,” a fed-up employee, and an altercation that ends with slapped cheeks and a 911 call. The contrasting stories will likely play out in an Atlanta courtroom in the months to come. For now, Chase wears the label of an accused criminal. His January mugshot – scruffy-faced in a gray hoodie, eyes slightly glazed – has been splashed across the tabloids, cementing this fall from grace in image form.
The Buckhead bar brawl is Chase’s first known arrest, but not the first time a Chrisley sibling has seen the inside of a jail cell. (His older half-brother Kyle has been arrested multiple times, most recently in 2024 on assault and resisting arrest charges (Chase Chrisley Arrested for Alleged Simple Battery After Being Named a Suspect in Bar Assault).) It’s a bitter coda to the once-beloved series: while Chrisley Knows Best portrayed Chase as a lovable goofball – a prankster under his dad’s strict but loving guidance – real life has taken a darker turn. The show’s cancellation in 2023, following his parents’ imprisonment, left Chase without the shelter of producers and PR spin. What remains is a 28-year-old man with a string of poor decisions and a burgeoning rap sheet.
Like Father, Like Son? Comparing Chase’s Crimes to His Parents’
The Chrisley family’s legal troubles, though interwoven, run a wide spectrum – from the sophisticated white-collar frauds of Todd and Julieto the comparatively petty transgressions of Chase. It’s almost a study in scale and hubris.
Todd and Julie’s offenses were deliberate, long-term schemes: for nearly a decade they bankrolled their lavish lifestyle by conning banks and the federal government ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice) ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice). They forged documents, lied about income, and even tried to obstruct justice once the FBI and IRS were on their trail ( Northern District of Georgia | Federal grand jury indicts Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie Chrisley | United States Department of Justice) ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice). The dollar amounts were staggering – over $36 million in fraudulent bank loans, $20 million of which Todd later discharged in bankruptcy ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice), and millions more in unpaid taxes. Federal prosecutors argued the couple “lied through their teeth to get whatever they want,” painting them as serial swindlers (The Chrisleys ‘Lied Through Their Teeth’ to Get $30 Million in Loans …). The judge, in turn, made an example of them with harsh prison sentences. “When you lie, cheat, and steal, justice is blind to your fame, fortune, and position,” FBI Special Agent Keri Farley said pointedly after their sentencing ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice) – a statement that resonates beyond the Chrisley case.
By contrast, Chase’s misdeeds – a $16k tax lien, an expired license, a bar fight – seem almost quaint. They are the kinds of troubles one might expect from an immature young man with newfound fame and no compass. A tax lien of that size could happen to any self-employed 18-year-old who doesn’t hire a good accountant (though notably, sister Savannah did not rack up similar debts). The real estate license blunder hints at lack of commitment rather than an intent to defraud. And the bar assault, while serious, is a far cry from the multi-million-dollar conspiracies orchestrated by his parents. If Todd and Julie were playing in the big leagues of financial crime, Chase is so far only a junior varsity offender.
Yet, the apple doesn’t fall entirely far from the tree. There are through-lines connecting Chase’s controversies to the family pattern. The most obvious is the tax evasion angle – Todd infamously bragged on radio in 2017 that he “paid $750,000 in taxes” and anyone questioning him should “send us the bill”, a claim that rang hollow when his own indictment revealed years of unpaid taxes ( Northern District of Georgia | Federal grand jury indicts Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie Chrisley | United States Department of Justice) ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice). Chase’s failure to pay 2014 taxes came during the height of the Chrisleys’ first flush of fame (Season 2 of the show). Rather than set an example, the family environment may have tacitly encouraged dodging tax obligations – after all, if Dad could go on TV and radio proclaiming his financial innocence while ducking the IRS, why would the son feel urgency to pay up? Entitlement and deceit are the family legacy that Chase inherited. One financial crimes expert, reflecting on the case, mused that celebrity fraudsters often think they’re untouchable: “The Chrisleys’ fraudulent conduct was varied and wide-ranging… their fame didn’t stop the feds from catching up” (Federal grand jury indicts Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie …). Chase would be wise to heed that warning.
Moreover, Chase’s willingness to associate with “scams” – as alleged by social media watchdogs – suggests he hasn’t fully learned from Todd and Julie’s downfall. Even after his parents were imprisoned in 2023, Chase and his sister Savannah stuck by them, publicly insisting on their innocence and even launching a new podcast to defend the family name (Chase Chrisley Arrested for Alleged Simple Battery After Being Named a Suspect in Bar Assault). Instead of distancing from the Chrisley brand, they doubled down. That decision may have cost them business opportunities and credibility. “Any business these kids start will suffer because their parents are locked up for fraud,” observed one Reddit commenter matter-of-factly (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison). In Nashville’s elite social circles, the once-golden Chrisley name is now tainted. Chase’s apparent struggles – from income streams drying up to the drowning of sorrows at a bar – can be viewed as the aftershocks of his parents’ earthquake.
There is a cruel irony in how the script has flipped. On the show, Todd was the overbearing father reining in Chase’s shenanigans, often threatening to cut him off financially to teach responsibility. Now Todd sits in a federal prison in Pensacola, and it’s Chase who must navigate adulthood without a safety net. Todd and Julie’s incarceration meant that by 2023, Chase (then 27) and Savannah (then 25) suddenly became guardians to their younger brother Grayson and niece Chloe (Chase Chrisley Arrested for Alleged Simple Battery After Being Named a Suspect in Bar Assault). The pressure on the Chrisley kids has been immense – they’ve had to maintain the household and finances, all while dealing with public scrutiny and mounting legal bills for their parents’ appeals. In that light, one might see Chase’s bar meltdown as a crack in the facade, a sign that he too is buckling under the strain of the so-called “Chrisley curse.”
A Sensational Saga Still Unfolding
The saga of Chase Chrisley is far from over. He now stands at a crossroads eerily similar to one his father faced years ago: Will he continue the cycle of fraud and denial, or confront his mistakes and seek redemption? The criminal charge in Atlanta will proceed through the courts; if convicted, Chase could face jail time, though as a first-time offender he might negotiate a plea or diversion program. Financially, he will need to find a stable, legitimate income – not an easy task with the family’s assets in shambles (Todd and Julie owe millions in restitution) and his own reputation tarnished. Reality TV opportunities have largely dried up, though reports say Chase and Savannah are “desperate to return to reality TV” to pay the bills (Why Dont Savannah and Chase Talk Anymore – TikTok). It’s a risky gambit: networks may shy away from stars with active criminal cases, but the Chrisleys have always had a knack for hustling a second chance.
One thing is certain: the true crime community and Chrisley fans alike will be watching closely. Every court filing, every leaked document, every whispered allegation on forums like Reddit will be dissected. Already, the open-source investigators on social media have compiled dossiers of the Chrisley family’s sins – from bankruptcy records to property deeds – mapping out what one Reddit user dubbed “The Chrisley Crime Family – a detailed list” (The Chrisley Crime Family —- a detailed list : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison) of scams big and small. In this age of crowdsourced sleuthing, Chase can’t hide his missteps. His mugshot is public, his tax lien is on record, and even his obscure real estate license status was ferreted out by determined fans.
In the court of public opinion, Chase Chrisley is teetering on a guilty verdict. “I really expected more from Chase… stupidly, I guess,” one disillusioned fan lamented on Reddit (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison), capturing the disappointment of those who once saw him as the lovable heir-apparent of the Chrisley charm. Instead, he’s flirting with the same legacy of lawlessness that brought down his parents. Perhaps the most fitting commentary comes from Chase’s own attorney, in a broadside intended to defend his client but inadvertently summing up the situation: “This incident has been entirely blown out of proportion” (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight).
For the Chrisleys, proportions have always been skewed – they lived larger than life on TV, spent beyond their means in real life, and lied bigger than they could cover up. Now, the consequences are coming home to roost for the next generation. Chase Chrisley’s story has all the makings of a Southern Gothic true crime tale: family pride, fraud, downfall, and the potential (however slim) for redemption. Will he break the cycle or become another Chrisley cautionary tale? The answer may lie in a Georgia courtroom soon, as the world watches the once-privileged son of reality TV face the very real reality of justice.
Sources:
- People Magazine – Chase Chrisley Arrested for Alleged Simple Battery (Chase Chrisley Arrested for Alleged Simple Battery After Being Named a Suspect in Bar Assault) (Chase Chrisley Arrested for Alleged Simple Battery After Being Named a Suspect in Bar Assault)
- WSB-TV Atlanta – Chase Chrisley bonds out of Fulton County Jail after arrest (MUGSHOT: Chase Chrisley arrested after bar fight in Atlanta – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta) (MUGSHOT: Chase Chrisley arrested after bar fight in Atlanta – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta)
- TMZ – Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight) (Chase Chrisley Busted for Simple Battery in Atlanta Bar Fight)
- Fox News – Todd Chrisley’s son Chase hit with $17K tax lien amid parents’ indictment (Todd Chrisley’s son Chase hit with $17G tax lien amid parents’ tax evasion indictment | Fox News)
- Bravo TV – Chase Chrisley accused of owing back taxes (Todd & Julie Chrisley Indicted for Tax Evasion, Financial Crimes | The Daily Dish)
- DOJ Press Release (U.S. Attorney, N.D. Georgia) – Indictment of Todd and Julie Chrisley ( Northern District of Georgia | Federal grand jury indicts Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie Chrisley | United States Department of Justice) ( Northern District of Georgia | Federal grand jury indicts Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd and Julie Chrisley | United States Department of Justice); Sentencing of Todd and Julie Chrisley ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice) ( Northern District of Georgia | Television personalities sentenced to years in federal prison for fraud and tax evasion | United States Department of Justice)
- Reddit – r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison community discussions (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison) (Chase promoting scams. : r/ChrisleyKnowsPrison)
- Georgia Criminal Law Guide – Simple Battery penalties in Georgia (Simple Battery | Georgia Criminal Lawyer)
- PA Realtors Association – Expired Real Estate License Guidelines (So You Didn’t Renew Your Real Estate License – Pennsylvania Association of Realtors®)
- Growing Up Chrisley footage via SoapDirt (March 2019) (‘Growing Up Chrisley’: Brand New Trailer for Spinoff with Chase and Savannah Chrisley Released | Soap Dirt) and Ground News/TvShowsAce (2023–24) (Ground News).