US government tells Todd, Julie Chrisley it wants their nearly $1M settlement from Georgia
ByJessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Todd, Julie Chrisley NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 20: Julie Chrisley (L) and Todd Chrisley attend the grand opening of E3 Chophouse Nashville on November 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images for E3 Chophouse Nashville) (Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images for E3 Chophouse Na)
(Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images for E3 Chophouse Na)
ByJessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The federal government has told the reality television stars, Todd and Julie Chrisley, that it wants nearly $1 million that the couple received in a settlement from Georgia.
The lawsuit, which was filed against the former Director of Special Investigations for the Georgia Department of Revenue Joshua Waites, had claimed that Todd and Julie Chrisley were targeted for tax evasion charges in Georgia. The reason they claimed they were targeted was because they were famous, according to WSB-TV.
The lawsuit said Waites’ initial charges against Todd Chrisley, 54, and Julie Chrisley, 51, was “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.”
The lawsuit claimed that he launched the case so he could get into the spotlight for bringing down reality television stars. WSB-TV reported that Waites was fired in March 2020 because he reportedly had lied about his education credentials.
Waites “began to focus his efforts and desire” on the Chrisley family, particularly Todd as well as his estranged daughter Lindsie, the suit says.
Waites had also allegedly broken federal law after sharing confidential tax information as well as grand jury information.
However, last month, both Todd and Julie Chrisley got nearly a $1 million settlement from Georgia over the lawsuit WSB-TV reported. Soon after, the federal government filed a motion that they wanted the money claiming a right to it so they could help pay off the $17 million restitution from Chrisley’s fraud conviction in June 2022.
The Chrisleys were cleared of the state tax evasion charges but were found guilty of federal fraud charges and hiding their wealth from tax authorities.
They are serving a combined 15 years in prison with Todd in custody in Florida and Julie serving time in Kentucky. They were originally sentenced to 19 years, but the sentences were reduced in September 2023.
The Chrisleys are in the process of appealing their conviction.
The couple, along with their children and Todd Chrisley’s mother, were stars on the reality TV show “Chrisley Knows Best.”
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Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 14: (L-R) Executive producer Stephanie Bloch Chambers, TV personalities Julie Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Chase Chrisley and Savannah Chrisley speak onstage at the 'Chrisley Knows Best' panel during the NBCUniversal USA Network portion of the 2014 Summer Television Critics Association at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 14, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 14: Actress Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley attend NBCUniversal's 2014 Summer TCA Tour day 2 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 14, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images) (Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Through the years NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 12: (L-R) Julie Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley and Lindsie Chrisley Campbell speak onstage at The Concert For Love And Acceptance at City Winery Nashville on June 12, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Concert For Love And Acceptance) (Rick Diamond)
Through the years WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: (L-R) Producer/TV personality Todd Chrisley reads aloud the tattooed text of Bible verse John 3:16 on TV personality Chase Chrisley, while Lindsie Chrisley observes onstage during the 'Chrisley Knows Best' panel at the 2016 NBCUniversal Summer Press Day at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village on April 1, 2016 in Westlake Village, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 03: TV personalities Savannah Chrisley (L) and Todd Chrisley attend the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) (David Becker/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 15: (L-R) Chase Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, and Todd Chrisley attend the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Through the years FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 05: (L-R front) Faye Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, Chase Chrisley (L-R Back row) Grayson Chrisley, Todd Chrisley and Nic Kerdiles pose during a personal appearance by Savannah Chrisley at Belk at Cool Springs Galleria Mall on November 05, 2019 in Franklin, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Rampage ) (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Rampage)
