Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of USA Network's hit reality series Chrisley Knows Best, have been sentenced to a combined total of 19 years in prison for tax evasion.
On Monday (November 21), 53-year-old Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months probation, while 49-year-old Julie was sentenced to seven years in prison, plus 16 months probation, per WSB-TV Atlanta.
The husband and wife were convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud back in June, and were handed down their sentences after prosecutors alleged that they used false documents to get $30 million in bank loans, as well as failing to pay back more than $20 million in debt.
Along with the fraudulent loans, the federal jury also discovered that the reality stars concealed millions of dollars from the IRS that they had earned from the show, per Variety.
The outlet revealed that prosecutors wrote in their sentencing note that the couple showed off their assets on their reality show while allegedly refusing to pay their service workers and a contractor who did some work in their house.
"Todd and Julie Chrisley are career swindlers who have made a living by jumping from one fraud scheme to another, lying to banks, stiffing vendors, and evading taxes at every corner," the prosecutors wrote.
"Their 'empire' was built upon the backs of defrauded community banks that collapsed while Todd Chrisley used the stolen money to fly to Los Angeles for bi-weekly haircuts," they added.
Their accountant, Peter Tarantino, was also sentenced on Monday to three years in prison after being found guilty of filing two false corporate tax returns on behalf of the couple's company.
The real estate tycoon's defense lawyer, Bruce Morris, has contended that the unsettled taxes have since been paid and that many people that work behind the scenes at Chrisley Knows Best and its spinoff shows rely on the Chrisleys for their income.
"The scores of people who are employed in the production and filming of the Chrisley television shows will be harmed when he is incarcerated," Morris wrote, per Variety.
Despite their sentencing, the couple has been getting support from friends, including Lee White, their agent at WME in Nashville, who wrote a letter stating that the Chrisleys helped his wife get cancer treatment.
"Simply put, the world is a better place because of the selflessness and love that they show to anyone that comes into their lives. This is the Todd and Julie Chrisley that I know. We need more role models in our communities like this, not less," White wrote.
While there’s no official word from NBCUniversal, Deadline has announced that Chrisley Knows Best has been canceled after running for nine seasons - despite being renewed for a tenth season a month before the convictions.
In addition to this, the spin-off show, Growing Up Chrisley - which followed the couple's children Chase and Savannah as they adopt adulthood away from their parents - has also been canceled.
E! had also ordered a dating show Love Limo - that was set to be hosted by Todd Chrisley - but that has also been scrapped following the verdict ruling.
Maybe the Chrisleys don't know best after all.
