Joe Giudiceis opening up aboutToddand Julie Chrisley’s tax fraud sentencing — and he’s not holding back.
Joe — who was previously arrested and jailed forbankruptcy fraud— shared his thoughts on the similarities between his case and that of the Chrisleys on the most recent episode of his ex-wife,Teresa Giudice, and Melissa Pfeister’sNamaste B$tchespodcast.
“I mean, these people did the same, exact thing we did, that I did — not Teresa, me,” Joe, 50, told the hosts. “It was probably, I say, 90 percent of the world does, the U.S. does — did — during the times, but they targeted us, and now these people here did the same exact thing, same exact charges.”
Joe was sentenced to a 41-month prison sentence after pleading guilty formail, wire and bankruptcy fraudin October 2014. Teresa, 50, was also found guilty of fraud charges and sentenced to 15 months in jail.
Meanwhile, Todd, 53, and Julie, 49,were convictedof conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud in June 2022. Julie was also found guilty of wire fraud. At their November sentencing, Todd received a12-year prison sentencealong with 16 months probation, while Julie was given seven years in prison and a 16-month probation.
The couple has continued to deny the charges, and plan to appeal their sentencing.
Joe Giudice and the Chrisleys.getty (2)
Speaking about the Chrisleys' trial and outcome on the podcast, Joe said, “They would’ve probably got a slap on the wrist, they would’ve gone to prison, maybe the wife would’ve gone to prison same [amount of] time as Teresa, if that. And the guy would’ve probably got the same amount I got, which he would’ve been out in, you know, 17 months, ‘cause he could’ve done the drug program and he’s a citizen and this and that, so he would’ve been out 16 months, 17 months.”
“But being that he went to trial, OK? They crucified him, all right?” Joe continued. “They give you double time.”
Julie and Todd Chrisley.Danielle Del Valle/Getty for E3 Chophouse Nashville
Joe added that he believed the big difference between the cases and their varying lengths of sentences was due to the fact he and Teresa took plea deals.
“I’m assuming they probably gave him a plea deal for, like, 48 months, something like that. Something like I got, all right? So, you get 36 months out of that, on good time and all that, and then if you get the drug programs, alcohol programs, and all that, you get even less time,” he explained.
“So, you do maybe 15 months, you know, 14 months, something like that. But if he would have taken the plea… you can’t go to trial against the feds. You can’t do it. You gonna lose,” he continued.
“We did the right thing,” Joe added. “We took the plea, we licked our wounds and did what we had to do and moved on.”
In August 2022, Teresa gotremarried to Luis Ruelas.
As for the Chrisleys, a source exclusively told PEOPLE earlier this month that “they’ve really been leaning into their faith to pull them through” after the sentencing.
“They are planning on appealing so that they can right this wrong,” the source added.
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The couple’s attorney Alex Little of Burr & Forman LLP also confirmed to PEOPLE that the duo was continuing to be"optimistic" about the futureand planning to appeal.
source: people.com
