Teresa and Joe Giudice, the combative couple from Real Housewives of New Jersey, have been indicted on multiples charges of federal bank and bankruptcy fraud. If they’re convicted, they face up to 50 years in prison.
It’s hard to recap the amount of money fraud this couple has committed. I remember covering their 2010 bankruptcy and subsequent legal issues. It came out that they were $11 million in debt, and that they splurged creditor’s money on things like a suit of armor, mahogany furniture, and chandeliers worth $5,000 a piece. They were later charged with hiding assets from creditors in their bankruptcy filing.
Somehow they held on to their tacky mcmansion throughout it all, which was custom made to Teresa’s specifications and included massive amounts of marble and onyx. Even after filing bankruptcy, Teresa never thought she had a money problem, insisting that she lived “within her means.”
Well all of that may come crashing down soon. The couple was officially charged with fraud yesterday. It turns out that they misrepresented income to obtain loans, even going so far as to create fake income documents. They also failed to file taxes for years.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star and her husband Joe were charged Monday with a number of serious instances of financial fraud. If convicted, they could each serve more than 50 years in prison.
“The indictment returned today alleges the Guidices lied to the bankruptcy court, to the IRS and to a number of banks,” Fishman said. “Everyone has an obligation to tell the truth when dealing with the courts, paying their taxes and applying for loans or mortgages. That’s reality.”
Among the charges of the 39-count indictment are conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, lying on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud. Joe is also being charged with failure to file tax returns for 2004 through 2008.
On loan applications, Teresa and Joe allegedly made up fake jobs and salaries to get larger loans. They also allegedly used fake documents in a conspiracy to get mortgages and loans they did not deserve.
In one instance, Teresa claimed to be an executive assistant to get a loan for $121,500, and even submitted fake W-2 forms and fake pay stubs.
As for her real job with Bravo, she allegedly concealed her earnings from RHONJ during bankruptcy proceedings. The government was alerted to potential problems with her filing back in 2010, as RadarOnline.com reported. Around the same time, Teresa admitted that the couple were $11 million in debt.
The potential punishments for their actions are as follows: Up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine for mail and wire fraud, up to 30 years in prison and $1 million fine for bank fraud, up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for bankruptcy fraud, and failure to file tax returns nets up to one year and $100,000 fine for each year.
What’s more is that Joe still has to go to trial for obtaining a driver’s license under his brother’s name. He did that in order to be able to drive when his license was suspended for DUI. Joe’s master plan to make it through his very probable incarceration (on that charge) is to set up some kind of reality show behind bars where he acts like The Godfather. I’m not kidding.
So now Joe and Teresa are each facing serious jail time. I feel bad for their young daughters, but that’s about it. They’ve been living the high life and eating up the spotlight for some time. If they defrauded people, and it seems obvious that they did, they should face the consequences. If they profit off their prison time in any way, the money should go to the people they owe.
The couple’s expensive ‘vow renewal ceremony’ was held in 2011, a year after they declared bankruptcy
Some photos credit: In Touch. Other photos are of Teresa promoting her book, Fabulicious on the Grill, in June. Credit: WENN.com
Couldn’t happen to two nicer folks.
Watching the show its apparent that they’re raising their daughters to be just like themselves. Hopefully they’ll go to jail and someone else will take the girls and they will get a fighting chance.
I recall one of the first episodes her bragging how she’d never live anywhere that someone else had already lived. Do you think she’s going to demand a brand new marble cell with gold fixtures?
If they go to jail (it sounds like they will) I hope whoever gets the kids can teach them something about responsibility, unlike these two useless baboons.
And I always predicted that Sheree from RHOA was Most Likely to Serve Time.
That was the first time I ever heard someone call it a “used” house.
Jaqueline — there is this one home builders as on television. They say during the commercial ” why buy someone else’s used house when you can build your own new home”
That is the first time I had heard something called a “USED” house.
It does sound really odd.
Couldn’t happen to two *nicer* people. May they spend many years in jail. They’re both disgusting and delusional. Ugh.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
don’t make me flip that table!
Ouch.. They are screwed.. Unless they can hire a really good attorney! Out of the all the RHONJ cast members, Teresa is the breakout star. She’s all they talk about. Wonder if Andy Cohen is freaking out by now..
Don’t you worry about Andy. I’m sure he’s got legions of lowlifes waiting in the wings for just this sort of opportunity.
And that is exactly why I hate most reality tv. This disgusting woman acts like her disgusting self and is rewarded with lots of money and star status. So gross.
Did anyone read her official statement about her crimes? She sort of blames it all on her husband. She is obviously as involved as him but it’s all his doing. Nice.
Exactly. Why are we taking these people and making them into something they are not? I am so tired of reality shows and stopped watching Bravo a few years ago because of it.
There is no really good attorney that is gonna get them out of this. They are majorly screwed, but they have themselves to blame.
Stupid because she actually had a really good career going with Housewives, Celebrity Apprentice and cookbooks and appearances.
And I did like her on celebrity apprentice. She seemed to have a sort of charisma about her.
All I have to say is I hope their daughter gets to go live with some people who will actually try to teach her something other than how to lie, cheat, steal, and not take responsibility for ANY of the decisions we all have to make in this life. I hope she has a nice aunt or uncle who isn’t concerned with all that crap to take her in. I feel for her, not for those two idiots.
Virginia, they have FOUR daughters, not just one. I didn’t mean to be a know it all, just wanted you to know that there are four poor children that have to live with these schmucks as parents. Ugh!
Little Melania is a total star. Andy should just make it the Melania show. She is responsible for the best TV lineof all times: “give me pizza you troll,” to Joe Giudice.
Seriously, those two made four really beautiful little girls.
That’s no way for a little girl to talk to her father, even if he is a creep. She should respect her parents. To me, that’s not funny. She doesn’t sound beautiful on the inside.
Hmm, annessez, I thought I said this earlier, but my comment must’ve not gone through. Anyway, I think the fact that their daughter called their father a troll is a comment on their parenting. The fact that she even called him that, calls to question where she heard it from…Mommy dearest, I’m guessing. Kids pick up things like that. Like when my mom was a young mother with my oldest sister, people told her that she cursed too much. She didn’t believe them until my sister, who was a toddler, called her baby doll a bitch.
If this is what it takes to get them off of television, so be it! Their daughters are probably better off raised by the relatives, and it’s the closest they could come to any sort of normal upbringing. I can only hope one or both will actually serve jail time.
And on the other hand, it would be nice to have seen any of the execs responsible for the country’s financial crises held accountable in any manner similar to this.
My thoughts exactly. The commercials for these shows are bad enough. I can’t imagine sitting through an entire show of middle-aged people still stuck in high school mode and seemingly determined to fulfill every low-down stereotype.
Feel very bad for the kids, though. May they learn the lessons they need without experiencing more hardship.
Yikes…RealHousewives of The Big House!
Prostitution Whores, indeed.
Yes! And I noticed that
Teresa has the smallest forehead (foresthead?) I have ever seen.
That’s not a forehead, it’s a twohead. : O
Kylie Jenner is a close second, poor thing.
Now, I really hope they go away for good. The Housewives franchise may have been fun in the beginning, but it’s just a tasteless baseless joke now. A poor excuse for television and that is saying a lot.
I feel sorry for the children, fugetabout them, they should have to pay for their crimes and I don’t think the IRS is very forgiving. What’s sad is that I think she made fat cash off of the show and her cookbook sales but I guess that wasn’t enough.
That is the ugliest house I’ve ever seen. As an old friend used to say, [fraudulent] money doesn’t come with instructions!
It’s so awful…Not a fan of brown drapes and brown…stuff.
Looks like a big ol’ turd if you ask me.
Tracking — actually I really kind of like the decor. I like the crown molding and the draped. Fireplace is amazing. Couches look a little uncomfortable. But the metal work on the stairs is crazy beautiful.
I live I a humble ranch with lenolium, Formica countertops and the worlds loudest dishwasher. But I got money to pay my taxes.
No big house for me.
Good ride while it lasted for Teresa and Joe. But they tangled with the Feds. They are done.
When they moved into that mausoleum, the youngest was crawling. I guess it’s hard to baby proof or use baby gates in a mansion. Teresa, who bragged about not having “help”, would be getting her hair and makeup done and then scream, “Where’s the baby?!”. Camera shows Audriana at the top of the marble stairs ready to fall down. Good times.
You have to love the TV over the fireplace in a formal living room. Ticky tacky. But of course, they’re so in love with watching themselves that they would place a television there.
couldn’t happen to a nicer family. their poor kids though.
Not a drop of pity for these two.
Hopefully their daughters learn something from this mess their parents created, but I doubt it because the kids are brats already thanks to their parents.
I cannot believe the delusion of some people. I mean – if you were involved in major fraud, don’t you think you’d lay low… fly under the radar? Have a nice, but not garish home? Maybe travel a bit?
Nope. Not these two. They go on television and flaunt all their ill gotten goods! Insane!
And who ever believed they had that kind of money from “construction”? We have a construction business and every year one of the publications puts out the gross revenues and incomes of several national builders – most owners are making under $250,000/year, even if their company’s revenues are in the millions. Super shady!
same thoughts) I guess simply to have money is not enough, they just had to rub it in people faces!!))) That urge was stronger than the common sense.
Yep. It reeks of arrogance and it infuriates me because they act like they’re so special that they’re above the law and untouchable.
Man, I f*cking hate greedy-ass rich people.
Or in this case, greedy ass poor people.
I was thinking about this when I was watching the show the other day (yeah, yeah I know;)) and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she (and maybe he, too) is a sociopath. Would explain A LOT.
Gigi — I guess if you are in construction you can stretch your housing dollar farther because you can get mor house “stuff” at discounted prices or at cost.
Even if you earn less that $250k, bet you have a lovely house. Yes??
Yes and no. I do have a lovely (but modest) home, mostly because we work on it ourselves so we don’t pay for labor – just materials. We have to report bartering to the IRS – guess the Giudices didn’t get that memo, lol!. Also – the “trades discount” is really variable. We get about 5% off of building materials only when we buy in volume – otherwise we pay the same as the public for a 2×4. The discount is more on some things, and nothing on others. It always kills me when people think we get things dirt cheap – we don’t!
Good. People like this, who scam and lie and game the system, are a big part of the problem and make things harder for the rest of us. I’m especially glad to see them nailed for the tax stuff – pretty gross that these two sat in their disgusting mansion and didn’t pay a dime while NJ teachers, police, etc were being laid off during the recession. They’re leeches. Enjoy prison!
I feel bad for the kids but maybe someone better will raise them right.
Yes. No pity for tax evaders. Even the stupidest among us (i.e these two) should know the tax man will get his.
i dont want to see her until she gets electrolysis on her forehead
I don’t want to see her until a scientist declares her a missing link in the evolutionary line of homo sapiens. Outside of that, she has no reason for fame or attention.
LOL
Lisa — there ain’t no room in the budget for that anymore.
She has to be pissed! I believe Caroline that her plan was always to start over once her hubby got locked up, but now she’s facing time. Mess!
I used to watch the show when it first came out, now it’s just disgusting. Ever episode was her shopping with bundles of cash.. who knew it was stolen? Joe was already in deep trouble over lying about his license, and yet was filmed driving? Throw their lying, cheating skanky rear ends in jail!
They so deserve it
Isn’t there a law in place that prevents lowlifes from profiting from their crimes? Also, I’m fairly CERTAIN that no prison is going to allow them to film there.
Just goes to show, you might be able to find loopholes everywhere else in the law, but if you screw with the IRS, you.are.screwed.
What in hell, I just noticed, are those rattan chairs in that gaudy living room? Who was the interior designer, Morticia Adams?
She is one of the most unattractive people I have ever seen…. it is nice to see the inside matches the out!
Do people really think they wont get caught when they defraud the US government? Go on a killing rampage, you might get off but get between the govt. and their money and they will come at you will all theyve got!
They are so ridiculous but I love them.
No doubt the IRS has been watching them since season 1 of RHONJ. You don’t walk into a furniture store and whip out $110K in CASH and not get the attention of someone, somewhere, somehow.
I saw that episode and I remember telling my husband that they were up to no good!
Also her hairline is freakishly low. Just had to put that out there.
This is serious and scary, 35 counts. He will do a lot of time and she will end up doing time too, a lot less. I mean, fake W-2s, etc. The Federal Government is nothing to mess with. Look at Martha doing time.
Theresa is as dumb as they come and so is he, but I can’t feel sorry for them. They lack a moral compass in life. It’s one thing to be ruled by living a fake, shallow life for the world, instead of a true one not based on acquiring as many material possessions, labels to impress, but to use fraud to get there in so many instances shows a true emptiness to their core.
not surprised, but what did surprise me are the “Teresa sympathizers” that will bite your head off about this…
I read some comments on another forum, it amazes me how folks think they “know” these reality people and are still team Teresa and Joe
cracks me up actually..
commenters were putting down the government, LOL!
do the crime, do the time–lock em up!
its unfortunate for their kids, who they are raising in the lapse of luxury and ill gotten gains.
I know, right?? I visit another site and it makes me LOL to read what some people write. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they get a Google alert on this article and cover over here to tell us we don’t know what we’re talking about.
If you’ve never watched RHNJ, the truth is that Theresa is as dumb as a rock. She may be entertaining to watch and she is definitely the centerpiece of that show, but DUMB. And greedy, obviously.
I stopped watching the HW shows last year. It’s just a train wreck at this point. (It is fun to read the recaps and the fanatical comments, though, LOL.)
EXACTLY!!
those Teresa sufferers are crazed, LOL
I haven’t watched this crap in yrs!!
Very unfortunate looking couple. Leathery skin, horrible hair piece. Both of them.
That was my thought too. Who looks in the mirror at the this skin tone and garish make-up and says, “Yes, this is THE LOOK!”
I am all for beautifully tanned and sun-kissed skin but THIS takes it to the nest level. I can almost smell the tanning bed through the screen.
What is going on with her hairline? Does she wear a bad wig or something? I don’t watch this show because I can’t endorse this sort of behavior.
She has a low hairline. Tidbit – Rita Hayworth, the old time movie glamour girl, also had such a hairline. The studios had her hairline raised somehow – perhaps electrology.
That low hairline is unfortunate. That’s what I heard about Rita too. She had to undergo ‘painful electrolysis’ to get rid of the low hairline in order to be in movies.
Anyone on here with a legal background? I hope the chances they get time are rather high although I feel like people who commit financial crimes seem to walk more often than not. I really hope they do some time and that the children are okay. That’s the sad part in all this really, four children with idiotic/criminal parents!
Not a lawyer, but majored in legal sociology. They will hire a good lawyer and Teresa will probably plea out with a minimal sentence. She will claim ignorance and remind the judge she has 4 kids. If she does time at all it will be under 3 years and she will have a lengthy probation period after that. Joe on the other hand, is effed. He’ll do 5-10 years unless the feds really mess up their case, which is doubtful considering they have been investigating this for at least 4 years. As of right now Joe is panicking and hiding his assets to try to prevent them from being seized, just like he hid Teresa’s income in bankruptcy court. Watch him get additional charges for that. It will happen. He’s too greedy and stupid not to do it. What I’m more interested in is how far back the feds have found evidence that Joe committed fraud. If the statute of limitations hasn’t run out, he could end up with doubled or tripled charges and that could seriously impact how much time he spends in prison. Even with a plea deal he could end up doing more than 10 years if additional evidence proves he was doing this for decades. These behaviors appear to be so ingrained and so remorseless with him, he must have been raised by parents just like him. This extends beyond financial crimes with him, he has cheated on Teresa throughout their marriage, and the DUI craziness shows he has no regard for dragging family members into his schemes. Who knows what else he did a decade ago? There’s no statute of limitations for murder. I will not be surprised if he had shady dealings in the past that come back to bite him now. Teresa is a greedy idiot too, but I don’t think she quite reaches Joe’s level.
Shannon — wow. Really good post.
Great info! Thanks for sharing!
Also I wanted to add that the kids will be fine. Fortunately they have family members who became rich without cheating, so they will be taken care of maintaining the lifestyle they are accustomed to. The shame and anger they will feel once they understand what their parents have done will harm them more than anything else. Hopefully they become better people than their mom and dad.
Thanks Shannon! It’s good to know they won’t just “walk away” from this!
Are you referring to melissa and joe gorga? Because it seems to me they made their money in a similar way, flipping house, etc.
When I saw this, my FIRST thought was “If only my mother had lived to see this.” One of Mom’s favorite past-times was hating on Tre. Oh, Momma… lookit this shit!! I hope the have Bravo in The Great Beyond.
aww how sweet, I’m sure she is looking down and laughing at these clowns!
Mother knows!
That’s really funny/sweet…I am sure she is laughing at this recent development with all of her friends who also like the real housewife franchises up in heaven 🙂
But where’s her forehead?
But where’s her forehead? Seriously.
Twohead, you mean.
Hahahahahahaha I know, right? The mystery of her missing forehead is way more important then the fact she’s going to jail. Hahahahahahaha I love it
oh my! Can’t wait for InTouch to cover their tacky prison cell!
These are the sort of people who live by the motto: “It was fun while it lasted”.
“Useless, Useless”, John Wilkes Booth
Everytime I see these two, I think of gorillas, but then I remember that gorillas have better manners.
How embarrassing. And their house is beyond tacky.
Theresa, laser that hair line!!!! You look like an ape.
How could these morons get away with this for so long? Those poor kids….they actually would probably be better off not being raised by such low lifes.I also think Bravo sucks for promoting these trashy shows. I will stick to HGTV and the cooking channel.
They’ve probably been putting a strong case together for years, so not exactly getting away with it. It just took time.
But seriously–why does our society reward immoral cretins with reality TV Shows?
Right?! It’s just depressing that this is what “entertainment” has descended to!
I hope both of them will get 50 years each in prison.
I wonder if the Gorgas will take the girls when their parents go to jail? I guess Joe wasn’t far off when he called his sister scum. so sad for the children.
I think Joe did say he would take the girls if anything happened to their parents. It is very sad.
Wow! That means he would be supporting what? seven kids? And I believe he said he also takes care of their parents.
Yep. Joe Gorga is a good guy even though he’s got a hot temper. And he absolutely worships his wife. I love that about him.
Didn’t the Gorgas have some recent legal troubles of their own?
All I heard was that Melissa cheated on Joe. If that’s the case, she’s a damn fool. He’s so good to her.
very sad, and right in front of the entire world. maybe joe gorga will raise them…..yeah i know
She’s a vapid moron, no way she could figure out how to pull off all that. Her hubby probably just told her where to sign.
I’m sure it goes past knowing nothing and just signing. She was no mastermind, but I bet she knew about the fake W-2s and her fake job and a few other things. Zero morals either one of them. Her need to buy and buy and buy garish stuff and designer shoes, bags, on and on in an over-the-top fashion to prove their worth instills no values in their daughters and is a poor role model, but now they have two parents with no morals also. Tre will be in church praying and saying that God will take care of them.
The lawyers’ fees alone will be astronomical. Her dad is in bad health. This will probably do him in, the stress of this.
also Joe is not a US Citizen, not sure if they revoke residency after time served for these types of non-violent crimes. If so back to Italy for Mr Juicy Joe.
Even though he is married to a US citizen? How do the immigration laws work?
Well what I do know of immigration is that it surely dosen’t care if it breaks families apart. People over at gawker are hilarious over this…
“I think they are going to go with “The government’s just jealous” defense.”
You don’t automatically become a US citizen upon marriage. You have to apply. And if he kept his Italian citizenship he could be deported for committing a felony
That’s a really nice house.
I think the house they’re going to won’t be quite so nice.
In the picture of her living room, there are 2 chairs in front of the fireplace. Do they have hoods on them, or am I seeing things?
That TV looks slightly random in such a museum looking type living room. Regardless, the only sympathy given is for their daughters. Here’s to hoping none of them grow up to be a downgrade as either of their parents.
….don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.” Lol… Now if the Kraptasians, Dog & Beth and Honey Boo Boo could follow their lead we’d all be better off.
She’ll plead unless that ape of her husband sells her out which is totally likely.
Prison would be good for her, but I fear for her safety. And other prisoners.
Federal prison isn’t as bad as state prisons for the most part.
i think a lot of people would rather live in fear of going to jail for things like this than be honest and work hard. that life is tough and they don’t want that
Teresa looked like she was on a heavy dose of Xanax on her way out of the court room today. Stone faced and speechless, trying to make it to the get away car. Feel bad for the kids that will now suffer because of Teresa and Joe’s greed.
Imagine when she tries to establish her rank in the prison hierarchy by flipping a mess hall table only to find they’re bolted to the floor.
the way teresa tilts her head in photos is hilarious; my dog does that when she is trying to tell me she has to go outside to poop.
also? ha ha, ya burnt!
Another mess brought to you by Andy Cohen.
Smarmy claiming bankruptcy then living like Liberaci on TV to flaunt it in everyones face. Garbage…good lock em’ up. Maybe Teresa’s new cell mates can thread that 5 head of hair for her.
Never fails to make me laugh, these people who have tv shows/make movies but don’t pay taxes or commit fraud. You’re out there on tv so the IRS/Revenue can see you’re making money yet not giving them anything ffs.
Hope the slammer has all the ingrediences (her word, not mine) that she needs to make her “famous” Marina Sauce. She may prove to be quite popular as a cook for the masses.
I have never watched the show, but she & her POS husband have made themselves nationally infamous. I want to imagine how humbling this is going to be to this prima donna princess, one who appears to consider herself above it all in her ridiculously over the top lifestyle.
I feel so sorry for their poor children. But seems it doesn’t take much these days to think absolutely none of the rules apply to you, huh?
What will probably happen is their attorney will work out a payment schedule for them. If they miss a payment, then they’d have to serve time. It’s what happened with Jimmy Haslam, Lauryn Hill and Sinbad among others.
They’ve been charged with far more than not paying their taxes, like Lauryn Hill. He will definitely serve time and she might, too, just not as much.