Todd and Julie Chrisley secure $1million settlement from Georgia after claiming misconduct during investigation against them as they continue to fight federal criminal convictions for tax evasion from prison

Todd and Julie Chrisley have secured a $1 million settlement from the state of Georgia after misconduct in the investigation into their bank fraud and tax evasion.

The reality TV couple was found guilty in federal court in June 2022 of tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million, with Todd sentenced to twelve years and Julie seven, both suspended for sixteen months.

The pair, famous for their hit show Chrisley Knows Best, received a reduced sentence. Julie will serve five and a half years at the Federal Medical Center Lexington in Kentucky. Todd will serve 10 years in a federal prison in Pensacola, Florida.

The Chrisleys were previously acquitted of their state tax evasion charges and in 2019 took action against Joshua Waites, the former director of special investigations at the Georgian Ministry of Finance, for “specifically targeting” their family.

The couple’s attorney announced Tuesday that they had reached a settlement with the state, he said People magazine is an ‘encouraging sign’ for the Chrisleys.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were famous for their hit show Chrisley Knows Best. They are pictured with their family in a promo for season eight of the series. From left to right: Faye Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley, Julie Chrisley and Grayson Chrisley

The Chrisleys were previously acquitted of their state tax evasion charges and in 2019 took action against Joshua Waites, (pictured) the former director of special investigations for Georgia’s Department of Revenue, for “specifically” targeting their family.

The Chrisleys and their lawyers argued for months that Georgia’s criminal case against them was “highly unusual and had real problems.”

Alex Little of Burr & Forman LLP applauded the couple’s latest legal victory, telling the magazine in a statement: “It is almost unprecedented for one arm of the government to pay money to defendants while another arm fights to keep them in jail.” hold.’

The Chrisleys filed suit against Waites in October 2019, accusing him of illegally sharing confidential grand jury and tax information with their estranged daughter Lindsie.

The lawsuit also alleged that Waites’ conduct was a “shocking” demonstration of how an “out-of-control public official 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. function rather than enforcing the law’.

The couple’s lawsuit against Waites argued that although Waites’ efforts “failed,” the process forced the Chrisleys’experience significant personal and financial difficulties.”

A 2021 investigation also found that the couple was “wrongfully targeted” in their tax evasion case due to their celebrity status.

Christopher S. Anulewicz, an attorney for the couple, said in a statement at the time that the Georgia Department of Revenue “used unauthorized means to obtain information about them.”

Much of the corruption was due to the actions of Waites, who resigned from his $107,000-a-year position last year after lying about his criminal justice degree.

The investigation uncovered photographs of the investigator posing on Todd and Julie’s seized furniture and submitting an improper request to the U.S. Treasury Department to gain access to their bank accounts.

The couple (pictured here after a 2019 trial) were found guilty of participating in a $30 million tax fraud and sentenced to twelve and seven years behind bars, respectively. Their sentences were reduced in September last year

Todd and Julie pictured with Savannah and her niece Chloe and brother Grayson, both of whom she is guardian

Despite being acquitted by the state of their tax evasion charges, the Chrisleys were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2019 on 12 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion – all of which they deny.

Todd and Julie began their prison sentences in January 2023. Their sentences were subsequently reduced in September last year.

The couple has appealed their criminal convictions. According to their attorney, this will be heard by the federal appeals court in Atlanta in April this year.

MailOnline has contacted Little and Burr & Forman LLP for comment.

News of the settlement comes just months after sources close to the couple claimed that Julie could soon end her 27-year marriage to Todd for convincing her to go along with his ‘foolproof plan’ – ultimately leaving them both behind the bars ended up.

Julie is reportedly questioning her marriage to 54-year-old Todd, who insiders say convinced her they would ‘never go to jail’.

“Julie’s friends are certain she will eventually divorce Todd for convincing her to go along with his foolproof plan that landed them in jail,” a source close to the fallen reality TV couple told November last year to DailyMail.com.

Todd reportedly felt “massively betrayed by the US government” after speaking out about alleged inhumane conditions at the prison, including a lack of air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter, as well as mold, sewage problems and insect infestations and even snakes.

News of the settlement comes just months after sources close to the couple claimed that Julie could soon end her 27-year marriage to Todd. Julie Chrisley (left) and Todd Chrisley (right) are pictured visiting Hallmark’s Home & Family at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 18, 2018 in Universal City, California

“He is hopeless and completely broken,” the source said of the real estate mogul. ‘He spends his days in seclusion because many prisoners don’t like him because he talks about prison conditions.

“Todd preaches to anyone who will listen. But he’s only making things worse for himself. No matter what he does, he’s still going to be in prison for the next ten years.”

Julie was also said to have been ‘cut off’ behind bars as she was consumed with remorse over the role she played in the fraudulent scheme.

‘She’s devastated. She is not doing well at all,” a separate source previously told DailyMail.com. “She can’t imagine being locked up for years and feels she has let her family down.”

The insider added Julie “regrets what she did in the name of fame.”