'Chrisley Knows Best' Stars' Fraud, Tax Evasion Trial Begins

ATLANTA — The federal trial of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of "Chrisley Knows Best" on criminal bank fraud and tax evasion charges began Tuesday in Atlanta.

The Chrisleys were first indicted in August 2019 and a new indictment was filed in February. Prosecutors say the couple submitted fake documents when applying for loans, defrauding banks of $30 million.

Julie Chrisley is accused of submitting a false credit report and fake bank statements when trying to rent a house in California, and the couple is accused of failing to pay rent a few months after they started using the home, according to the indictment.

Both Chrisleys are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of tax fraud. In addition, Julie is charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of obstruction of justice.

The Chrisleys deny wrongdoing. Their lawyer said Tuesday that Todd's business partner took over their finances, and the couple blames him for the bank fraud, which they claim they did not know about, according to a report from WSB-TV Atlanta.

Federal prosecutors claim the Chrisleys made $6 million over the first four seasons of "Chrisley Knows Best" and tried to hide the money in efforts to avoid paying nearly $500,000 in back taxes, according to the report. They accuse the Chrisleys of going so far as to transfer ownership of their company into the name Nanny Faye, the nickname of Todd’s mother on the show.

The trial is getting underway just days after E! announced that it is moving forward with a new dating series, "Love Limo," hosted by Todd Chrisley and weeks after the announcement that reality shows "Chrisley Knows Best" and "Growing Up Chrisley" have been renewed on USA Network and E!, respectively.

"Chrisley Knows Best" began airing in 2014 and follows the lives of Todd, a Georgia real estate tycoon, and his family in an unscripted reality show format. The show moved to Nashville, Tennessee, along with the family during its fourth season in 2016. The spin-off "Growing Up Chrisley" follows Chase and Savannah, Todd and Julie's grandchildren, living in Los Angeles.

"Love Limo" will have Todd guiding a single person through a day of speed dating.

"Todd believes you can learn everything you need to know about someone else in the first 20 minutes of meeting them and he's about to put that theory to the test," a release announcing the new show said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.