The embattled reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley have landed a $1 million settlement in their legal wrangle with the state of Georgia, stemming from charges of tax evasion. The couple, recognized from the show "Chrisley Knows Best," faced down the state's accusations and have been vindicated to the tune of seven figures.
This payout comes despite their earlier conviction on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion, which has them currently serving time in prison. Todd Chrisley received a 12-year sentence, reduced to 10, while Julie's sentence was cut down from seven to five and a half years, as indicated by DailyMail. Both also face several years of supervised release following their incarceration.
The Chrisleys' accusation that they were wrongfully targeted due to their status was persuasive enough to garner a substantial sum from the state. They claimed former Director Joshua Waites of the Department of Revenue's special investigations unit personally targeted them and shared their confidential tax information with estranged family members.
"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," Chrisley's attorney Alex Little conveyed in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. Waites resigned from his position after it was revealed that he lied about his academic credentials and engaged in other misconduct, including posing with the seized property of the Chrisleys.
The Chrisleys are still due in a federal appeals court in Atlanta this April, hoping for another win as they appeal their convictions. Todd and Julie have been vocal about their circumstances, with Julie questioning her nearly three-decade marriage and Todd decrying prison conditions that include mold and vermin infestations, as reported by DailyMail.
