Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley built their image on wealth and Southern charm, but behind the scenes, they were orchestrating elaborate financial frauds that ultimately landed them in prison. Their recent appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals did little to change their fate. Here’s a breakdown of the crimes they committed, the lies they told, and the shocking arguments they used in an attempt to escape justice.

At the heart of the Chrisleys’ legal troubles were two massive financial schemes: tax evasion and bank fraud. The court was blunt in its assessment, stating,

“The Chrisleys were living off of fraudulently obtained money while dodging taxes, misleading banks, and manipulating their finances to appear more successful than they actually were.”

Todd and Julie Chrisley went to extreme lengths to hide their reality TV income and avoid paying taxes.

• Example #1: Hiding Todd’s Income in Julie’s Name
  • Todd owed over $500,000 in back taxes from 2009. Instead of paying, he directed all his future income into a business account under Julie’s name—a move the IRS wouldn’t immediately detect.
  • Judge’s Take: “Even though the 7C’s account was in Julie’s name, the evidence showed Todd controlled it, spent from it, and even dictated who got paid.”
• Example #2: Moving Money to Avoid IRS Detection
  • When the IRS caught on and requested bank records from accounts in Julie’s name, the couple transferred ownership of the account to Todd’s mother, Faye Chrisley.
  • The very next day, Todd emailed his talent agent:“Please refrain from sending any deposits to the account you have on file as that account has been compromised. We will send you a new account number tomorrow.”
  • Judge’s Take: “This was a deliberate, calculated act to hide income from the IRS.”
• Example #3: Lying to IRS Agents
  • The Chrisleys’ accountant, Peter Tarantino, falsely told IRS officials that Julie had no involvement in 7C’s and that the company was actually owned by one of their daughters (without saying which one).
  • Judge’s Take: “Tarantino’s repeated falsehoods, directed by the Chrisleys, were an obvious attempt to keep the IRS off their trail.”
• Example #4: Faking Compliance with Tax Laws
  • From 2013 to 2016, the Chrisleys did not file tax returns—even though they were making millions from Chrisley Knows Best.
  • When they realized they were under federal investigation in 2018, they suddenly rushed to file past-due returns. However, their accountant still sent fake tax returns to banks and Bentley dealerships before they were officially filed.
  • Judge’s Take: “They only paid their taxes when they realized they might go to prison.”

The Chrisleys also engaged in an elaborate bank fraud scheme, submitting doctored financial documents to secure millions in loans.

• Example #1: Falsified Bank Statements
  • Todd and his former business partner, Mark Braddock, submitted fake account statements to banks.
  • In one instance, Braddock sent Todd a falsified Merrill Lynch report showing the Chrisleys had $776,509.52 in the account—when in reality, they had less than $17,000.
  • Todd replied:“You are a [expletive] genius! Just make it show 4 mil+.”
• Example #2: Julie’s Role in the Fraud
  • In 2012, Julie edited a check before it was submitted to a bank. She emailed Todd and Braddock, saying:“Post date is the only thing that needs to be changed.”
  • She also fabricated financial documents, falsely claiming the family had $4 million in cash and marketable securities to secure loans.
• Example #3: Direct Lies to Banks
  • The Chrisleys used fraudulent personal financial statements to convince Wells Fargo, RBC Bank USA, and GulfSouth Bank to extend lines of credit.
  • Braddock testified that Todd instructed him:“Stop telling me this [expletive], create them like you always have. If I don’t get her these, they won’t renew the loans.”
  • Judge’s Take: “The evidence overwhelmingly showed that Todd and Julie engaged in bank fraud for years, fabricating financial records to support their extravagant lifestyle.”
• Example #4: Direct Financial Gain from Fraudulent Loans
  • Julie personally received money from fraudulently obtained loans to her company, Select Real Estate Holdings.
  • Loan proceeds were funneled into the Chrisleys’ personal accounts, including $35,000 from one loan and $43,000 from another.

Throughout the investigation and trial, Todd and Julie Chrisley repeatedly lied to authorities, banks, and even their own accountants. The judges noted:

“At every turn, the Chrisleys misrepresented their financial situation—to the IRS, to banks, and even to their own lawyers. Their fraud was sophisticated, deliberate, and extensive.”

Some of their most outrageous lies included:
✅ Claiming they weren’t in charge of their own bank accounts (even though emails showed Todd dictated every financial move).
✅ Lying to the IRS about who owned their company (switching ownership to Todd’s mother when under investigation).
✅ Submitting fake tax returns to banks to secure loans.

Even with overwhelming evidence, the Chrisleys argued that their convictions should be overturned. The court rejected every argument, calling some of them absurd:

• “The Money Wasn’t Ours” – The Chrisleys claimed their business accounts were not personal income. The court dismissed this as “factually untrue.”
• “There Wasn’t Enough Evidence” – The court ruled there was more than enough proof.
• “We Were Forced to Set Up This Company” – The judges said this was irrelevant to the fraud itself.
• “Our Accountant Misled Us” – The evidence showed they directed the accountant’s actions.

One of the most shocking claims was that the IRS lied about the Chrisleys’ unpaid taxes at trial. The court acknowledged that some IRS testimony may have been inaccurate, but ruled it did not change the overwhelming evidence of their tax fraud.

The 11th Circuit upheld nearly every aspect of the case, rejecting all but one claim. The only change was that Julie’s sentencing would be recalculated because the court could not confirm whether she was involved in fraud before 2007.

Todd and Julie will continue serving 144 months (Todd) and 84 months (Julie) in federal prison while also paying over $17 million in restitution and forfeiture.

Todd and Julie Chrisley didn’t just bend the rules—they built their empire on fraud. Their appeal was an attempt to rewrite history, but the court saw through their web of lies.

“No amount of charm or reality TV stardom can change the reality of financial fraud.”