The stars of the series Chrisley Knows Best, Todd and Julie Chrisley began a trial in Atlanta yesterday to see whether they’re guilty of charges of bank fraud and tax evasion. Prosecutors say the two lived extravagantly off federal loans they lied to obtain and even submitted fake documents to banks to procure more than $30 million in loans from them.
Todd and Julie are also accused of hiding earnings from the IRS, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Annaleise Peters said in her opening arguments, “They made up documents and they lie through their teeth to get whatever they want, whenever they want it.” The family’s accountant, Peter Tarantino, has also been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of willfully filing false tax returns.
The Chrisleys have denied all charges, and their attorney Bruce H. Morris claimed that a former employee, Mark Braddock, committed the crimes while impersonating Todd because he “wanted to be” Chrisley. Braddock turned the Chrisleys into the FBI and admitted to committing instances of fraud, but the prosecution says the couple’s interest in fraud did not dissipate once Braddock was fired.
Julie has also been hit with a charge for wire fraud and obstruction of justice related to her inflating her income in order to obtain a lease on a California home, reportedly not paying the rent, and then manipulating documents while they were being investigated.
The pair…
