Julie Chrisley became emotional while reflecting on her life in prison after she was resentenced in an Atlanta courtroom Wednesday (Sept. 26).
The former Chrisley Knows Best star was resentenced to 84 months behind bars for tax evasion and bank fraud, the same sentencing she originally received in 2022.
Back in June, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of Julie and her husband Todd Chrisley, but found that the trial judge had held Julie accountable for the entire scheme conducted by her and her husband. Her case was then sent back to the lower court, where Julie’s lawyer requested her sentence be reduced to five years maximum, per the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Federal prosecutor Annalise Peters argued that Julie was a “core part” of the scheme and asked the judge to reinstate her seven-year sentence, per the AP.
Julie apologized to the court for her actions before the resentencing was handed down, noting that her time in prison “has been the most difficult part of my life.”
“I would like to say I’ve had years to think about what I’ve wanted to say and I’m sorry for my actions and situations that led us to where we are today,” she told the court, per People. “I’ve had 20 months in prison, but it has been much more leading up to the trial and I apologize for my actions that led to where we are today.”
Julie continued, “I have done everything I can do to get closer to my family. I’ve taken tests for new skills, such as driving a forklift and serving food in proper ways … this has been the most difficult part of my life. I can’t ever repay my children for what they’ve had to go through and for that, I am so sorry.”
Her children, Savannah and Chase Chrisley, were both in attendance.
Julie and Todd were convicted in 2022 of bank fraud, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the IRS. Julie was also convicted on charges of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
A judge vacated Julie’s sentencing in June 2024 but upheld the convictions for Todd and accountant Peter Tarantino, per Entertainment Tonight.
Todd is currently completing his own prison sentence at FPC Pensacola. He was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison but his release date was moved up almost two years to Jan. 22, 2033. Julie’s sentence was also reduced from seven years to five at the time.
The Chrisley family previously helmed two television series on the USA Network – Chrisley Knows Best and Growing Up Chrisley – that were swiftly canceled after Todd and Julie were sentenced to prison.
At the courthouse, their daughter, Savannah, claimed the resentencing was politically motivated. “That’s what you get with an Obama-appointed judge,” she said, per the AP. She said they plan to appeal the new sentence.
According to Savannah, who has become an outspoken advocate for them from the outside, the Chrisleys have been struggling with life in prison. She has accused the prison guards at FPC Pensacola of planting drugs on her father and conspiring to retaliate against him.
She has also expressed that she fears Julie will suffer from “horrendous” PTSD when she’s released.
