Todd & Julie Chrisley Bag Massive Victory In Lawsuit Alleging Investigation Misconduct
By Afouda Bamidele on January 10, 2024 at 12:15 PM EST
Todd and Julie Chrisley have achieved triumph amid their prison sentence, scoring a big victory in a lawsuit alleging that the State of Georgia performed misconduct in their investigation.
Currently serving prison sentences for their part in a significant bank fraud and tax evasion scheme, the Chrisleys have been demonstrating unwavering resilience throughout the entire process. Notably, they had previously managed to secure reduced sentences in a separate legal battle.
Todd & Julie Chrisley Legal Victory Signals Turning Tide
In a surprising turn of events, the Chrisleys' attorney, Alex Little of Burr & Forman LLP, announced a $1 million settlement from the state of Georgia. This ruling resolved their 2019 federal lawsuit against Joshua Waites, the former Director of Special Investigations of the state’s Department of Revenue.
Little emphasized the unusual nature of the Chrisleys' 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.”
He added informed People Magazine that it was “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 saga began when the couple, cleared of state tax evasion charges in Georgia, took legal action against Waites in October 2019. Their lawsuit accused him of "specifically targeting" the renowned family in the state tax evasion case.
The documents obtained by the outlet asserted that Waites' charges were a "shocking example of how an out-of-control public servant can abuse his office and violate the rights of innocent citizens for reasons that have more to do with securing publicity and money for his office than with enforcing the law."
This legal victory comes as a streak of good fortune for the Chrisleys, coinciding with Julie's 51st birthday. Despite celebrating under challenging circumstances within prison walls, the reality TV star’s birthday took on a poignant significance — a wish for her freedom from the confines of prison walls.
The family's matriarch faced the new year with optimism, drawing strength from the love and support of her family to navigate it all. In honor of her special day, sources revealed that Julie received a heartwarming visit at her Kentucky prison from her children, Savannah and Grayson, alongside her granddaughter, Chloe.
Their family attorney highlighted her strength and determination, stating, “Julie is strong and optimistic and certainly doesn’t want to be behind bars for her birthday. She’s hopeful that with the appeal, this will be the last birthday that she does spend on bars.”
Little also shared that the scheduled date for the couple's oral arguments was moved to April 2024, describing the intricate process as akin to a "Supreme Court arguing with different judges."
Todd And Julie Set for Early Release With Reduced Sentences
Before their recent stroke of good fortune, the celebrity couple encountered a previous one regarding their prison sentences. Todd and Julie are set to be released earlier than their initially planned dates, marking a significant development in their legal saga.
Following their trial in May 2022, spanning nearly three weeks, the "Chrisley Knows Best" stars received a combined prison sentence of 19 years in November of the same year. Despite launching an appeal, they reported to prison on January 17.
However, it seems their good conduct earned them a favorable turn in their situation. The Federal Bureau of Prisons' online inmate search system showed that Todd is scheduled for release from the Federal Prison Camp [FPC] in Pensacola, Florida, on January 22, 2033 —almost two years earlier than his original 12-year sentence end date.
Similarly, Julie's sentence was reduced by 14 months, with her expected release from the Federal Medical Center in Lexington now set for October 19, 2028.
The good news came after Todd's attempt for home confinement due to challenging conditions at FPC Pensacola was unsuccessful.
The "Growing Up Chrisley" star's legal representative, Jay Surgent, cited bias from a prison employee as the reason before expressing his disappointment, stating, "It's very, very unfortunate, and that matter is now being investigated internally, and we feel as though there was no reason why it should have not been processed, even in light of his prison term."
