By Mark Gray
9:28am PST, Nov 23, 2022
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There are few families with more continuing drama than the Chrisleys, the stars of USA's "Chrisley Knows Best." Since we've gotten to know Todd and Julie Chrisley and the kids, the family has dealt with guilty verdicts, prison sentences, bombshell affair claims, indictments, a sex tape scandal and more — some of which have had lasting impacts on the reality TV stars. Family feuds are now the least of the Chrisleys' concerns. On Nov. 21, 2022, Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years for bank fraud and tax evasion while his wife, Julie Chrisley, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the same crimes; both also got another 16 months of probation. Over the summer of 2022, the Chrisleys were found guilty of the financial crimes in federal court. On the June 29 episode of "Chrisley Confessions," Julie finally opened up about their legal woes, saying it's "a telling time for us as a family." She was also keeping tabs on "people who have reached out and … people who haven't reached out." Todd, meanwhile, said the public perception of their family had shifted too. While noting they had many people in their corner, he admitted, "We've dealt with so much negative press here lately, and we've had negative press before, but not like we've had here since the verdict."
Keep reading to relive even more drama involving the reality TV family…
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In light of Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley's prison sentences, what will happen to son Grayson Chrisley, 16, and granddaughter Chloe, 10 (Todd and Julie have custody)? Enter the couple's daughter Savannah Chrisley, who's revealed she'll be taking care of both kids. "[I'm] trying to navigate how you teach two younger children who aren't fully developed yet and … get them to understand the circumstances," she said on the Nov. 21, 2022, episode of her "Unlocked" podcast, which dropped just hours before her parents were sentences to prison. "I come home Tuesday, and I have custody of a 16-year-old and a 10-year-old, and we spend our first Thanksgiving not as a family."
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You'll be seeing far less of the Chrisleys in the future. Following Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley's sentencing, several of the family's reality TV shows will go dark. Page Six reported that "Growing Up Chrisley" and "Love Limo," a show Todd was set to host, were both axed. TMZ reported that the fate of "Chrisley Knows Best" is unclear. Back in May 2022, USA picked up "Chrisley Knows Best" for a 10th season, but Todd and Julie's legal woes threw everything into flux. Still, USA reportedly has new episodes banked and those — which were shot before the couple's trial — will air in 2023.
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Todd and Julie Chrisley are staying strong and even "optimistic" after their combined 19 year prison sentence for financial crimes. "Yesterday was a difficult day for the Chrisley family. But Todd and Julie are people of faith, and that faith gives them strength as they appeal their convictions," the couple's attorney, Alex Little, told People magazine on Nov. 22. The lawyer alleged that prosecutors presented numerous falsehoods during the case. "Their trial was marred by serious and repeated errors, including the government lying to jurors about what taxes the couple paid," the lawyer said. "Based on these issues, we are optimistic about the road ahead."
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While some members of the Chrisley family have remained quiet about Todd and Julie's the prison sentences, daughters Savannah Chrisley and Lindsie Chrisley have both broken their silence. After the "Chrisley Knows Best" patriarch and matriarch learned their fates, Lindsie posted a video of two girlfriends sitting on a bed. "The best girlfriends, show up in the bad times with hugs and champagne," she wrote as Bruno Mars' "Count on Me" played. Savannah, meanwhile, posted a defiant quote by pastor Kimberly Jones, aka Real Talk Kim. "Noah didn't stop building the ark to explain himself to everyone who doubted and hated on him," the post read. "Keep building your ark. The rain will do the talking."
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On Sept. 23, 2022, another legal situation came to the forefront. Todd Chrisley is being sued by a former Georgia Department of Revenue investigator who claims the reality TV star continues to defame her. Amy Doherty-Heinze, who investigated the Chrisley parents for tax evasion, alleges that Todd's been lying about her on his "Chrisley Knows Best" podcast and falsely accusing her of criminal conduct. In the lawsuit, which was obtained by TMZ, Amy said Todd named her twice and "maliciously" accused her of breaking laws during the investigation, even calling for her to be prosecuted. This is actually the second time she's filed a defamation lawsuit against the Chrisley family patriarch, having first done so in 2021. She filed the second lawsuit after he refused to retract his initial statements. Todd has actually been doubling down on his critiques of Amy, naming her in another podcast and claiming she "illegally" accessed the Georgia Crime Information Center. The first lawsuit is still pending.
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A family schism once got so bad that Lindsie Chrisley, Todd Chrisley's daughter from his first marriage, vowed in 2021 to "never" speak to her father again. However, Todd and Lindsie have since mended fences, with Lindsie revealing that her divorce from Will Campbell sparked a father-daughter reunion. "After my divorce stuff had become public, my dad had posted, 'I'm here, I love you, whatever's going on in your life right now I see it,'" she recalled on the "Southern Tea" podcast in July 2022. "That's really more so how we were able to reconnect. [It was] definitely because of my divorce." The reconciliation, she insisted, had nothing to do with her father's legal woes, which you can read about next…
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After the reality of the conviction settled in, Todd Chrisley finally publicly addressed his legal situation. "It has been a whirlwind. Lot of moving parts, lot of things going on in our lives and a lot of seeing God's movements right now," he said on the "Chrisley Confessions" podcast on June 20, 2022. The family patriarch said he's staying strong but admitted, "It's a very sad, heartbreaking time for our family right now." In thanking fans for their support, he added, "We still hold steadfast in our faith and we trust that God will do what he does because God's a miracle worker — and that's what we're holding out for. It's a tough time right now, but we are grateful for each and every one of you that has taken the effort." Todd also confirmed that he and his wife are appealing.
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In a federal trial that wrapped up in June 2022, prosecutors claimed Todd and Julie Chrisley took out $30 million in fraudulent bank loans to fund their extravagant lifestyle. They were also accused of hiding their reality TV money so they wouldn't have to pay taxes on it. The couple argued that someone else managed their finances, but they were found guilty of criminal bank fraud and tax evasion. Todd and Julie were not remanded to jail when the verdict was handed down.
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Nearly two weeks after the conviction, Savannah Chrisley broke her silence about the guilty verdict, claiming on Instagram that life is "so cruel." She asked her followers to "be kind," adding, "we're all doing the best we can." In her June 16 post she insisted, "I will continue to stand by my family and fight for justice. Justice for ourselves and for others that the system has failed." Savannah believes the legal situation will strengthen her family but she also admitted to feeling "let down by God" and that her "relentless prayers have been unheard."
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The court case was very eye-opening. On May 25, 2022, a salacious new bombshell dropped during court testimony amid the Chrisleys' federal fraud trial: Todd Chrisley, the family patriarch, allegedly had a secret affair with his male business partner for about a year in the early 2000s, and the two paid a blackmailer $38,000 in cash after the anonymous person threatened to expose their relationship. Former Chrisley employee Mark Braddock made the claim in court under oath. According to The Insider, Mark told the FBI that he committed bank fraud on behalf of Todd, wife Julie Chrisley and himself, adding that he had feelings for Todd even after their extramarital affair ended. Mark, who was given immunity from prosecution, claimed he created fake documents and submitted them to banks for financial gain. He also said he sent emails and made phone calls impersonating Todd, all with the reality star's knowledge. The men had a falling out in 2012, and Mark admitted to being vengeful.
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After Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty on all counts of criminal bank fraud and tax evasion charges in June 2022, estranged daughter Lindsie Chrisley spoke out, claiming she was "deeply saddened" by the verdict. "I know most of you are expecting to hear from me on my podcasts this week as I took time to be with my family last week," Lindsie wrote on her Instagram Story on June 8. "The verdict is not what I had hoped or prayed for, and I am deeply saddened for myself, my son and my family as a whole." Lindsie has had a very, very strained relationship with her family, but she took the high road in her response. "Please pray for us during this difficult time and know that I will be back when the time is right."
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The beginning of the drama… On Aug. 12, 2019, Todd Chrisley took to Instagram to let fans know that it wasn't going to be a typical week: The reality TV star shared a family photo and a lengthy caption indicating that he and his wife, Julie, were going to be named in a federal indictment. He said the family was being "blackmailed" by a former employee. He wouldn't "go into details" about the case, he wrote, but it "involved all kinds of really bad stuff like creating phony documents, forging our signatures, and threatening other employees with violence if they said anything." He said that his family has "nothing to hide and have done nothing to be ashamed of. Not only do we know we've done nothing wrong," he explained, but the Chrisleys have "tons of hard evidence" to prove it, he insisted.
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One day after Todd Chrisley's Instagram post, he and his wife, Julie, were indicted on 12 counts of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion charges in Georgia. The federal indictment says the family didn't pay income taxes from 2013 to 2016 and used false documents to secure millions in loans. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia said that "from at least as early as 2007 through approximately 2012, Todd and Julie Chrisley allegedly conspired to defraud numerous banks by providing the banks with false information such as personal financial statements containing false information, and fabricated bank statements when applying for and receiving millions of dollars in loans." On Aug. 14, 2019, the couple surrendered to authorities and pleaded not guilty in an Atlanta court. Their attorney maintained the couple's innocence too. The upside? Despite their arrests, Todd and Julie were still allowed to travel between Georgia and Tennessee to continue to filming "Chrisley Knows Best." In 2022, prosecutors argued that that family lives an extravagant lifestyle that they can't afford, and Todd and Julie defrauded banks to make it appear that they were wealthier than they are.
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Following the indictment, Savannah Chrisley and Chase Chrisley publicly supported their parents: Both shared a family photo on Instagram with the same caption: "FAMILY." Both also turned off the function allowing followers to comment on their posts.
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Todd Chrisley's formerly estranged son from his first marriage, Kyle Chrisley, weighed in on the drama and supported his dad. "I've seen the stories about my dad's indictment all over the internet. I know the interview I did bashing my dad OVER A YEAR AGO is being shared on social media," he wrote on Facebook on Aug. 14, 2019. "Honestly, I'm tired of it. You guys don't have the facts and I need to set the record straight once and for all. Everything I said in my [2017 "Good Morning America"] interview was a lie [because of drug addiction issues]. These allegations against my dad are all LIES!" The father and son have had a contentious relationship over the years, but they've made up. Kyle also said sister Lindsie Chrisley and their biological mother, Teresa Terry, were the ones who squawked to authorities about Todd and second wife Julie Chrisley's alleged tax crimes.
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Lindsie Chrisley, Todd's estranged daughter from his first marriage, saw the allegations that painted her as the government's tipster and she wasn't happy. Her attorney even said that the reality TV family was harassing her. "It was reported that Lindsie was the source of the information that led to her father's arrest. That is untrue, she was not the source of this information," her attorney said in a statement. "Lindsie has been a constant target of lies, harassment and threats from her family and as a result has been distancing herself from the Chrisley family since 2017. Lindsie is currently processing the events that have unfolded. We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and pray for a just resolution."
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On Aug. 15, 2019, Lindsie Chrisley — Todd's estranged daughter — entered the picture in another bizarre way. It emerged that earlier in the summer of 2019, she went to police and claimed that her dad and half-brother Chase Chrisley were "threatening and harassing her" and wanted her to lie about an incident believed to involve Todd's taxes. If she refused to do so, she claimed, her dad and brother threatened to release a sex tape in which she was involved. Lindsie — who believes her brother is in possession of the tape — filed a police report in Georgia, but the case there was later dismissed because the alleged threats and harassment happened in Tennessee.
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Todd Chrisley vehemently denied having any involvement in obtaining an alleged sex tape featuring his estranged daughter, Lindsie Chrisley, but he dropped a bombshell while discussing it on Aug. 15, 2019: Todd claimed she had affairs with stars from "The Bachelorette." "It's heartbreaking and shameful that these kinds of accusations have to be aired in public. We have tried to keep Lindsie's extramarital relationships with Robby Hayes and Josh Murray private for her sake since August of 2016," Todd said in a statement. "Sadly, for reasons we can only guess at, she ran to the sheriff's office to accuse her brother of buying a sex tape of her and Robby, which was a complete lie, and now she's telling more lies about me." He added, "Although our hearts are broken, Lindsie is our daughter and we will always love her." Lindsie's attorney shot back afterward, saying Lindsie was "flabbergasted at the audacity of Todd and Chase Chrisley, who are more focused on attacking my client rather than defending themselves against the allegations of criminal conduct."
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Former "The Bachelorette" star Josh Murray (pictured), who appeared on season 10 of the dating show where he was star Andi Dorfman's final pick, denied Todd Chrisley's accusations claiming that he and Lindsie Chrisley were sexually intimate. He also threw shade at the family on Aug. 15, 2019. "Lindsie and I have been friends for years. I know Todd and his family are going through some tough times right now and I pray everything works out in their favor," he told E! News. "They should probably focus on how not to be imprisoned for 30 years rather than spreading gossip to try and hurt their daughter. I truly believe they are good people and I wish them the best in however they choose to go about their actions."
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A week after Todd Chrisley linked his daughter to Robby Hayes, the former "The Bachelorette" star spoke out, squashing the speculation that he and Lindsie Chrisley made a sex tape. "We did not make a sex tape," he said on the "Housewives and Vanderpump" podcast. "I'm not sitting there with a camera aimed down and trying to get the angles. Like, we got caught on the security camera, basically. It was a puppy camera in her friend's living room, the couch we crashed on." Robby added that he and Lindsie are "in the middle of dealing with it."
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In the wake of the indictments, arrests and extortion claims and denials, "Chrisley Knows Best" was still taping — it was business as usual. On Aug. 15, 2019, Todd Chrisley posted a quote to Instagram that read, "Tough times never last, but tough people do." He later said, "We are getting back to work after this distraction and our show hasn't been canceled , God delivered much clarity yesterday as to those who set a net for us, so the Lord says, 'May the net your enemies cast for you be the same net they become snared in.'"
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Despite their bad blood, Lindsie Chrisley wished no ill will toward her father. In August 2020, Todd Chrisley announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and had been hospitalized for a few days. After the news broke, a few people sent celebratory messages to Lindsie. "The audacity of some people blows my mind," Todd's estranged daughter wrote on her Instagram Story along with a screenshot of the message. "This is disgusting. My inbox is flooding with similar messages & I'm not here for it. Get right or get off my page." She then warned the person, "Don't make me post your handles. Let's make you 'legendary,'" a reference to their Instagram name.
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The roller coaster continued in February 2022 after Savannah Chrisley's ex-fiancé Nic Kerdiles threatened suicide. In truth, he might not have made it if not for the Chrisley family. In an Instagram video — in which Nic was flanked by Savannah and Todd Chrisley — he said he was struggling with depression, anxiety and COVID. "I don't know where I was at in my mental state, but between the depression, anxiety, the COVID effects, the medication, the alcohol, I did something that I never thought I would ever do," the former pro hockey player said, thanking his ex and her father for being there to help him cope. Todd and Savannah reportedly rushed to Nic's home as he was contemplating taking his own life. In a 911 call, Todd and Savannah could be heard pleading with Nic, who had a gun. In the Instagram video, Todd said he was glad Nic was "still here" and added, "Mental illness should not be made fun of, should not be taken lightly, and we should do everything in our power to lift those who are struggling up, not pay them to tear someone down."
