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What prison life is like for Todd and Julie Chrisley, the former reality TV stars

Rosie Manins, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on

Published in Entertainment News

ATLANTA — Former Atlanta multimillionaires and reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley are “doing as best they can” while behind bars at federal prison facilities plagued with mold and other unhealthy conditions, their daughter says.

Savannah Chrisley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution she’s “fearful” about the conditions her parents are living in while they serve 12 and seven-year prison sentences on bank fraud and federal tax evasion charges. She said they have been mistreated in the government’s care.

“Black mold, asbestos, lead-based paint, unclean drinking water,” she said Friday, calling the federal prison system “broken.” “There are maggots in the food. And there’s sexual abuse.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported extensively on dire prison conditions in Georgia; the Chrisleys are held elsewhere.

Savannah Chrisley wouldn’t specify how her parents have been mistreated in prison, but said their plight has opened her eyes to “something so much bigger.” She said she and other family members will fight to change the prison system long after Todd and Julie Chrisley are released from custody.

“When you know better, you do better,” she said. “For that I’m grateful that this has happened to my family.”

 

Savannah Chrisley spoke to reporters outside the federal appeals court in Atlanta following a hearing in her parents’ case. An attorney for Todd and Julie Chrisley asked a three-judge panel to overturn many of their convictions. A decision will likely take months.

The couple were found guilty in 2022 of a total of 10 charges. Prosecutors said they fraudulently obtained $36 million in bank loans and hid millions of dollars in income from their “Chrisley Knows Best” show to avoid paying federal taxes.

Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie Chrisley to seven years. Both were ordered to pay $17.2 million in restitution. Their prison sentences began in January 2023. Todd Chrisley, 56, is in a minimum security prison in Pensacola, Florida. Julie Chrisley, 51, is in a prison facility in Lexington, Kentucky.

Savannah Chrisley said she spoke to her parents on Thursday evening and that they watched Friday’s hearing from prison. She said they’re hopeful about their appeals.

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©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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