Hours after “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Guiseppe “Joe” Giudice was sentenced to serve 41 months in jail as well as ordered to pay $414,588.90 in restitution fees to Wells Fargo and another $10,000 to the government, his partner in crime and wife Teresa faced the reality of her crime.
After gaining TV fame and building a lifestyle empire, Teresa now faces over a year — 15 months — in prison for multiple fraud charges.
When viewers first met the Giudice’s in March 2009, Teresa was described as Dina and Caroline Manzo’s close friend who loved retail therapy, getting spa treatments and spending quality time at the Jersey Shore with her three young daughters and husband. Her husband, Joe, appeared to be a successful business man who owned a thriving construction business. So thriving, that the reality stars purchased a whopping $1.7 million 10,000-sq.-ft. mega-mansion.
Unfortunately for the reality couple, all came crumbling down when they filed for bankruptcy in October 2012, claiming they were a staggering $10.98 million in debt.
In August 2013, the Giudice’s first appeared in court; they were accused of committing 39 counts of financial fraud, including defrauding the IRS and several banks between 2001 and 2008 and were facing a reported 50-year prison sentence. On Monday, July 30, 2014 the couple were indicted for financial fraud after omitting costly items from their financial disclosure forms, including cars, construction equipment, home furnishings, insurance policies and other items by a federal grand jury.
Together, Joe, 43, and Teresa, 42, are parents to Gia, 13, Gabriella, 9, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 5. It is because of their children that it is believed that Mrs. Giudice received a lesser sentence.
Since receiving her sentence, Teresa who was scheduled for an upcoming appearance in which she was to autograph bottles of her Fabellini Wine, has reportedly cancelled all scheduled events.
She tweeted, “Hi, I just want to be clear there will be no Fabellini appearance this week. Stay Tune for further appearance announcements” on October 4, 2014.
As for Teresa, the Bravo series cast member has to surrender to authorities on January 5 next year. – ruthie hawkins/@ruubabie
