The image of Todd and Julie Chrisley was built on a very specific kind of perfection. For years, fans of Chrisley Knows Best watched the Georgia family navigate life with sharp wit, southern charm, and an seemingly endless supply of cash. Todd was the meticulous, fashion-obsessed patriarch who always had a snappy comeback. Julie was the calming influence. Their life looked like a polished diamond. But in 2022, that diamond shattered.
People always ask, what did the chrisleys do to go to jail? It wasn’t just one bad decision. It was a massive, years-long scheme that involved millions of dollars, fake documents, and a complete disregard for federal law. They weren't just "creative" with their taxes. They were systemic about it.
The $30 Million Bank Fraud Scheme
The heart of the case against Todd and Julie Chrisley wasn't actually the IRS, at least not at first. It started with the banks. Federal prosecutors proved that the couple, along with their accountant Peter Tarantino, conspired to defraud community banks in the Atlanta area.
How? By lying.
They used fabricated financial statements to make it look like they were significantly wealthier than they actually were. If they needed a loan, they’d just hop on a computer and inflate their bank account balances. We are talking about millions of dollars in "phantom" assets. They’d take these fake documents to small banks, secure massive loans, and then use the new money to pay back old loans or fund their increasingly lavish lifestyle.
It was a classic shell game.
Eventually, the house of cards collapsed. When the loans stopped coming, the Chrisleys filed for bankruptcy. They walked away from $20 million in debt, but the feds don't just forget about that kind of money. The FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation division started pulling threads. They found that the Chrisleys had been doing this since before they were even famous.
📖 Related: Lindsay Lohan Leak: What Really Happened with the List and the Scams
Evading the IRS and "The 7C's"
Once the reality TV checks started rolling in from USA Network, you’d think they would have played it straight. They didn't.
Instead of paying their taxes, they funneled their Chrisley Knows Best earnings into a production company called 7C’s Productions. Legally, the money belonged to them, but on paper, they made it look like it belonged solely to Julie or other entities to keep the IRS from seizing it for back taxes.
The most damning piece of evidence? They allegedly didn't file tax returns for several years while they were literally on television bragging about how much money they spent on clothes.
Todd Chrisley once famously claimed on his show that they "spend $300,000 a year, sometimes more, on clothing." To the IRS, that’s a confession. If you can afford a designer wardrobe that costs more than most Americans' homes, you can afford to pay your income tax.
The Role of Mark Braddock
You can't talk about what did the chrisleys do to go to jail without mentioning Mark Braddock. He was Todd’s former business partner and, according to his own testimony, his secret lover.
Braddock was the one who helped create the fake documents. He admitted in court that he used "scrapbooking" techniques—literally cutting and pasting numbers onto bank statements—to trick lenders. When the relationship between Braddock and Todd soured in 2012, Braddock went to the FBI.
👉 See also: Kaley Cuoco Tit Size: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Transformation
The defense tried to paint Braddock as a vengeful liar. They claimed he acted alone and that the Chrisleys were victims of his obsession. The jury didn't buy it. There were too many emails. Too many signatures. Too many instances where Todd and Julie were directly involved in the deception.
The Sentence and the Fallout
In June 2022, a jury found them guilty on all counts. The charges included conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The sentences were heavy:
- Todd Chrisley: Sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
- Julie Chrisley: Sentenced to 7 years in federal prison.
- Peter Tarantino: Sentenced to 3 years for his role as their accountant.
They reported to prison in January 2023. Todd went to FPC Pensacola in Florida, a minimum-security facility. Julie was sent to FMC Lexington in Kentucky.
Since then, the family has been in a constant state of legal flux. Their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, has become the face of their appeal process, frequently speaking out about what she calls "inhumane" prison conditions, like lack of air conditioning and mold.
Recent Legal Wins and Setbacks
While the convictions mostly stood, there was a small glimmer of hope for Julie Chrisley in 2024. An appeals court vacated her sentence, ruling that the original trial judge hadn't sufficiently proven she was involved in the bank fraud as early as 2006.
✨ Don't miss: Dale Mercer Net Worth: Why the RHONY Star is Richer Than You Think
However, don't mistake that for an acquittal.
The court upheld her convictions for the later years of the scheme. When she was re-sentenced in September 2024, the judge gave her the exact same sentence: 84 months. The judge basically said that even if the timeframe changed slightly, the gravity of her actions deserved the full seven years.
Todd’s appeal wasn't as successful. His 12-year sentence remains firmly in place.
Why This Case Stuck
The Chrisley case is a fascinator because it represents the ultimate "fake it till you make it" story gone wrong. Most people assume celebrity tax cases are just about "oops, I forgot to file." This was different. This was proactive.
They used Photoshop to create a life that they eventually got for real, but they used the fake life to fund the transition.
If you are following this case, the main takeaway is that the federal government is incredibly patient. They watched the Chrisleys for years. They gathered thousands of emails where the couple discussed "fixing" numbers.
Practical Next Steps for Following the Case
If you want to stay updated on the Chrisleys or protect yourself from similar legal pitfalls (even on a smaller scale), keep these points in mind:
- Monitor the Supreme Court Filings: The Chrisley legal team has hinted at taking their case to the highest court, though experts say the chances of them hearing a white-collar fraud case like this are slim.
- Audit Your Own Records: While you probably aren't "scrapbooking" bank statements, the Chrisley case highlights how the IRS uses lifestyle audits. If your reported income doesn't match your visible lifestyle, it triggers red flags.
- FOIA Requests: Many of the trial exhibits and documents are public record. You can actually look up the specific "cut and paste" documents used in evidence through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) if you want to see the "scrapbooking" for yourself.
- Watch for Early Release: Federal inmates must serve at least 85% of their sentence. However, under the First Step Act, Todd and Julie have already seen small reductions in their release dates due to "good behavior" credits.
The Chrisleys are currently scheduled to remain in custody well into the late 2020s and early 2030s. Their reality TV empire is over, replaced by a legal saga that serves as a grim reminder: the feds always get their cut.