Todd and Julie Chrisley: Reality TV stars’ journey to prison and back
After serving time for bank fraud and tax evasion, reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley were pardoned by President Donald Trump in May, and now, they are eyeing a return to the spotlight. Here’s a look back at their journey from fame to federal prison to freedom.
The couple starred on USA Network’s “Chrisley Knows Best” alongside their children Savannah, Chase and Grayson, and Todd’s mother, “Nanny” Faye, from 2014 to 2023
The show followed Todd Chrisley, a wealthy, opinionated real estate businessman in Georgia, as he navigated parenting, marriage and his businesses.
The Chrisleys’ fall from grace
A federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted the Chrisleys on 12 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States in 2019.
Prosecutors accused the Chrisleys of evading nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016 and hiding over $1 million from the IRS, according to E! News.
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Todd Chrisley was released from prison after being pardoned by President Donald Trump. (NewsNation)
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“Chrisley Knows Best” cast members from left, Chase Chrisley, Savannah Crisley, Julie Crisley and Todd Chrisley attend the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2014 Upfront at the Javits Center on Thursday, May 15, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)Julie and Todd Chrisley in the episode “Let’s Talk About Sex, Grayson.” (Photo by: USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
- Todd Chrisley denied that he and Julie evaded taxes shortly after the indictment, saying that a former employee had stolen from his family and “phony documents” and forged their signatures years ago, PEOPLE reported at the time.
In 2022, Todd and Julie Chrisley were sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison for conspiring to defraud Atlanta-area banks out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents and tax evasion.
Todd Chrisley calls out prison conditions
The reality TV couple began serving their prison sentences in January 2023, with Todd being sentenced to a federal correctional prison in Pensacola, Florida, and Julie at a federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky.
Todd spoke to NewsNation in December 2023 while serving his sentence, saying that he felt he was being targeted by prison staff and that he and other inmates were living in filthy conditions.
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“(They said), ‘What we need to do is we need to put him in diesel therapy and put him in shackles and let him ride around the country for a time and then bring him back and that will humble him,’” Chrisley said. “‘He thinks he’s in one of his mansions that he’s used to living in, but this is the (expletive) BOP (Bureau of Prisons).’”
He also said that the prison food was “disgustingly filthy,” estimating that the inmates would take in maybe 1,000 calories per day.
“They are literally starving these men to death here,” Chrisley said.
Chrisleys pardoned by Trump
The Chrisleys were released from prison on May 28 after Trump pardoned the couple. Their daughter, Savannah, a supporter of the president, advocated for their release and sought a presidential pardon.
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Todd and Julie Chrisley did not see each other during their time in prison, but said their reunion was emotional.
“And you know, for me, it’s just weird because she was never away from me. Even the whole time we were apart. She was with me every second, every breath that I took,” Todd Chrisley said.
Adding, “I mean, when I saw her, I was grateful to wrap my arms around her, but it was just more like, ‘I’m home.’”
Julie Chrisley also spoke about the reunion, saying there was “laughter and tears.” And the first thing that the duo did together was dinner with their family.
The Future of the Chrisleys
The Chrisleys do plan to return to the limelight.
Lifetime reportedly greenlit a new show, currently called “The Untitled Chrisleys Project,” expected to air later this year, over two years after their conviction, according to People.
According to an official logline from Lifetime, “The Chrisleys don’t know best anymore, but they’re doing their best to be there for each other. The family faces the challenge of carrying on the Chrisley name and legacy on their own with only phone calls and brief visits with their incarcerated parents.”
NewsNation’s Sierra Campbell, Steph Whiteside Anna Kutz and Damita Menezes contributed to this report
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