'Real Housewives' stars sentenced to jail time for fraud

NEWARK, N.J. (MyFoxBoston.com) — Two "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars were sentenced to jail time for fraud on Thursday.

Reality TV stars Teresa and Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice were charged with conspiracy and bankruptcy fraud; Teresa will serve 15 months in prison and her husband Joe is looking at 41 months. Given that the couple has four daughters, the judge is allowing Teresa to serve her sentence first and then Joe will follow so the girls will not be without a parent.

The 42-year-old mother reportedly apologized to the court, while crying, before she was sentenced.

"I fully take responsibility for my actions. I need to learn to take responsibility for myself," she said. "I can't even explain the pain that I have gone through. I am more sorry than anybody will ever know or understand."

Teresa will be giving up her Louboutin's for prison sneakers in early January.

Joe also expressed his remorse in court. After serving his time, the reality star may be deported. According to his attorney, Joe came to the states from Italy when he was an infant and didn't know that he wasn't an American citizen until he was an adult.

A spokeswoman for NBCUniversal, which owns the network that "Real Housewives" airs on said that they would not comment on the Giudices' position with the show. They did say that the couple will be on "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen Monday night for their first interview after the sentencing.

The judge reportedly criticized the couple for not submitting several assets from a pre-sentencing report. ATV's and jewelry were among the missing items. While sentencing Teresa, the judge said she considered probation along with home confinement and community service, but decided on jail time because of the omissions.

"You are a savvy businesswoman," the judge said to Teresa in court. "You know how to brand yourself. You tell me you didn't understand you had to cooperate? It defies logic."

She received less time than her husband because she wasn't as involved in the conspiracy as Joe was, the judge said.

Teresa and Joe pleaded guilty in March. The couple admitted to hiding assets from bankruptcy creditors and submitting false loan applications for about $5 million in mortgages and construction loans. In addition, Joe pleaded guilty for not paying taxes, more than $200,000 worth. The couple will need to pay $414,000 in restitution.

Both Teresa and Joe have been a part of the Housewives franchise since the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" aired in 2009.

Cox Media Group