Remember back when Clay Aiken was on Celebrity Apprentice? One of the cast members that season, way back in 2012 was Teresa Guidice, from The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She came across as a nice, mild mannered lady in competition, but apparently, she’s pretty crazy on the show.
Last year, she and her husband, Joe Giudice, were indicted on wire and bankruptcy fraud. Basically, they forged documents in order to obtain loans on their property. They also failed to file income taxes and attempted to hide money as they went through the bankruptcy process (prior to being on Housewives).
It was such a big old mess that the two pleaded guilty back in March to several counts of bank and mail fraud.
Teresa’s husband was sentenced today to 41 months in jail with a restitution payment of $414,588. Later, despite pleading for leniency, citing fears of abandoning her 4 young children, Judge Esther Salas sentenced the housewife to 15 months in the slammer, with a restitution payment of $414,588.
Teresa had pleaded her case:
“Thank you for letting me address the court today. I wrote this last night because I get nervous when I speak. I speak as a wife, a mother, and a daughter. Today I am blessed but I am also humbled. I hear you and what you are saying, and it is time for me to wake up.”
“My daughters are my life. I don’t care about the TV show, or materialistic things. My daughters are all that I care about, and I feel so bad that my 13-year-old has any idea what is going on with all of this. I am more sorry than anyone will know. The silver lining is that I can learn and show my daughters. I know everything happens for a reason, and I hope I can find that reason.”
The Giudices have 4 daughters: Gia, 13, Gabriella, 9, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 4.
An attorney for the prosecution asked that Teresa serve at least 21 months, arguing that dishing out a light sentence would send the message that famous people can get away with committing crimes. However, if the couple had been honest on their financial disclosure forms to the court, Judge Salas might have cut them a break.
“For a moment I thought about probation, until I read the government’s report,” said the judge. “What you did in the financial disclosure really sticks in my craw.”
According to North Jersey.com, Teresa will serve her sentence first, after which Joe will serve his. The back to back sentences allow for at least one parent to be home with the kids at any given time. Both parents will spend the holidays at home. Teresa is set to report for her term on Jan. 5. After Joe’s jail time is finished, the government will likely deport him back to Italy, where he is originally from. He’s not an American citizen.
Read more at US Magazine, NorthJersey.com
