Reality TV's Chrisleys are appealing their bank fraud and tax evasion convictions in federal court

ATLANTA -- Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who are successful situation aft being convicted connected national charges of slope fraud and taxation evasion, are challenging aspects of their convictions and sentences successful a national appeals court.

The Chrisleys roseate to fame with their amusement “Chrisley Knows Best,” which chronicled the exploits of their tight-knit family. But prosecutors said they engaged successful an extended slope fraud strategy and hid their net from taxation authorities portion showcasing their extravagant lifestyle.

Peter Tarantino, an accountant they hired, besides is serving clip successful prison. He wants his condemnation thrown retired and to beryllium granted a caller trial.

Lawyers for each three, arsenic good arsenic national prosecutors, are acceptable to look for arguments earlier the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals successful Atlanta connected Friday.

The Chrisleys initially were charged successful August 2019. In June 2022, a assemblage recovered them blameworthy of conspiring to defraud assemblage banks retired of much than $30 cardinal successful fraudulent loans. They besides were recovered blameworthy of taxation evasion and conspiring to defraud the IRS, and Julie Chrisley was convicted of ligament fraud and obstruction of justice.

Todd Chrisley, 56, is housed astatine a minimum information national situation campy successful Pensacola, Florida, with a merchandise day successful October 2032, portion Julie Chrisley, 51, is astatine a installation successful Lexington, Kentucky, with a merchandise day successful July 2028, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

Tarantino, 61, was recovered blameworthy of conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing mendacious taxation returns. He is being held successful a minimum information national situation campy successful Montgomery, Alabama, with a merchandise day successful September of adjacent year.

Prosecutors person said the Chrisleys submitted fake documents to banks and managed to unafraid much than $30 cardinal successful fraudulent loans. Once that strategy fell apart, they walked distant from their work to repay the loans erstwhile Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy. While successful bankruptcy, they started their world amusement and “flaunted their wealthiness and manner to the American public,” and past hid the millions they made from the amusement from the IRS, prosecutors said.

Lawyers for the Chrisleys contend that an IRS serviceman lied connected the basal astir the mates owing taxes for years erstwhile she knew nary taxes were owed and that prosecutors knowingly presented and failed to close that mendacious testimony.

They besides reason the proceedings justice was incorrect to let definite grounds without requiring prosecutors to amusement it wasn't obtained during an unlawful search. And they accidental prosecutors failed to supply capable grounds to convict the Chrisleys of taxation evasion and conspiracy, showing lone that they utilized a communal amusement manufacture signifier to person acting income.

They besides reason prosecutors failed to nutrient immoderate grounds that Julie Chrisley participated successful slope fraud. They accidental the justice erred by ordering restitution and forfeiture of assets.

Todd Chrisley should beryllium acquitted connected the taxation evasion and conspiracy counts and fixed a caller proceedings connected the remaining counts, his lawyers argue. Alternatively, the appeals tribunal should nonstop the lawsuit backmost to the proceedings tribunal to clasp a proceeding connected his claims that the IRS serviceman lied and grounds was improperly admitted.

Julie Chrisley should beryllium acquitted connected the 5 slope fraud charges, her lawyers argue. They besides accidental her condemnation connected the remaining charges, including $17.2 cardinal successful restitution that she and her hubby were ordered to pay, should beryllium wiped distant and she should beryllium resentenced connected those counts.

Prosecutors reason determination was capable grounds astatine proceedings to enactment the charges and assemblage verdicts, and that the grounds was decently obtained and admitted. They said the justice was close to contradict an evidentiary proceeding oregon caller proceedings connected the Chrisleys’ assertions that the IRS cause lied, saying the cause testified to the champion of her recollection.

A lawyer for Tarantino argued successful a filing with the appeals tribunal that his lawsuit was harmed by being tried with the Chrisleys and helium urged the tribunal to reverse Tarantino’s condemnation and instrumentality his lawsuit to the little tribunal for a caller trial.

While Tarantino did definite things that ended up facilitating the Chrisleys' fraudulent conduct, determination was nary grounds helium did thing intentionally to facilitate that conduct. Jurors ended up confused and biased, which caused them to convict each 3 defendants connected each counts they faced, his lawyer wrote.

Prosecutors accidental determination was important grounds demonstrating Tarantino's idiosyncratic engagement and helium can't show actual, compelling grounds that helium was harmed by being tried on with the Chrisleys.