In a surprising development amidst their ongoing legal battles, former reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley have reason to celebrate. Despite currently serving time for fraud and tax evasion, the couple recently secured a substantial $1 million settlement from the State of Georgia.
This financial win stems from a lawsuit filed in 2019 against Joshua Waites, the former Director of Special Investigations at the state’s Department of Revenue. The Chrisleys alleged misconduct in Waites’ investigation of their financial affairs. Their attorney, Alex Little of Burr & Forman LLP, emphasized the unusual nature of the criminal case, stating, “We have been saying for months that the criminal case against the Chrisleys was highly unusual and had real problems. This settlement is an encouraging sign.”
Little went on to highlight the uniqueness of the situation, noting, “It’s nearly unprecedented for one arm of the government to pay money to defendants when another arm is fighting to keep them in jail.”
The legal turmoil began when the Chrisleys were accused of a $2 million state tax evasion case in Georgia in 2019. After being cleared of these charges, they pursued legal action against Waites, alleging he had unfairly targeted their family.
Despite their victory over state charges, the couple faced federal indictment on 12 counts, including bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy—charges they vehemently deny. Convicted in June 2022, Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty of conspiring to defraud banks of over $30 million in fraudulent loans, alongside several federal charges of tax evasion.
Initially sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison, Todd’s sentence was reduced to approximately 10 years, while Julie’s was shortened to around five years. The legal woes led to the cancellation of their reality show, “Chrisley Knows Best,” and its spinoff, “Growing Up Chrisley,” following the couple’s sentencing in November 2022.
As the Chrisleys navigate the complexities of their legal battles, their lawyer confirms that their appeal of the criminal convictions is scheduled to be heard by the federal appeals court in Atlanta come April. The twists and turns of this legal saga continue to captivate followers, leaving many anticipating the outcome of the impending appeal.