Others get off scott free
Some people are held criminally liable for the lies they tell to banks and the IRS. Others not so much:
The reality-TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley on Monday were sentenced in Atlanta federal court on fraud convictions, with Todd Chrisley receiving 12 years and his wife, Julie Chrisley, receiving a sentence of seven years.
The Chrisleys were convicted in June of defrauding banks out of more than $30 million by providing fake financial statements making it look as if they were wealthier than they were. Prosecutors proved that the couple used the loans to buy expensive cars, take extravagant trips, and live a lifestyle they couldn’t afford, while also hiding money from the IRS to avoid paying taxes.
Peter Tarantino, the couple’s accountant, was also sentenced Monday to 36 months in prison for his role in committing fraud on his clients’ behalf.
During the emotional sentencing hearing on Monday, Assistant US Attorney Annalise Peters showed footage of the Chrisleys bragging about spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on clothes, from their 30,000-square-foot home, while avoiding taxes and in the middle of bankruptcy.
This sounds exactly like Tish James’ case in New York against Donald Trump. Why don’t the same criminal laws apply to him that apply Todd and Julie Crissley?