Bankruptcies, Fraud & Unpaid Bills! 'Dance Moms' Biggest Financial Scandals Revealed
Sep. 26 2016, Updated 3:20 p.m. ET
Although the stars of Dance Moms are bringing in thousands from the hit show, they're not safe from financial scandals! From Abby Lee Miller's fraud charge to Melissa Ziegler's bankruptcy, check out all of the times the cast members had money troubles.
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Maddie Ziegler's parents filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in May of 2009. Kurt and Melissa, who were married at the time of the joint filing, owed $1,214,284.15 to creditors. Some debts included $908,000 in mortgages for three properties, $206,002 in credit card payments and more. The case was discharged in July of 2010.
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Newest cast member Ashley Allen, who was brought on the show so her daughter Brynn could be the next Maddie, filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy herself in January 2008. Ashlee and Aaron, who are now divorced, owed $1,405,903.80 to creditors. They racked up $1,131,668 in mortgage payments for two properties, $158, 334 in credit card payments and more. The case was discharged in April of 2008, with the family forced to surrender one of their homes and two cars.
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Dance teacher Abby Lee Miller was indicted on 20 counts of fraud in October 2015. She has been charged with concealment of bankruptcy assets, false bankruptcy declarations and bankruptcy fraud. Miller, 49, could face up to five years in prison and $5 million in fines if convicted.
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In Miller's initial bankruptcy filing, she claimed that she only made $8,882.55 a month when she filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2010. She stated that her monthly expenses were $11,525.40, which left her with a negative income of $2,642.85.
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Miller also explained how her customers owed her $7,356 at the time. She accused former student and Dance Moms star Chloe Lukasiak's parents of owing her $500.
‘Dance Mom’s’ Abby Lee Miller smiles as she leaves a restaurant in Los Angeles.
As for former co-star Kelly Hyland, Miller accused her of owing $800.
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In October 2011, Miller got into a legal battle with PNC Merchant Services for making unauthorized transactions. In court papers obtained by Radar, she accused the company of processing unauthorized credit transactions of $1,102.08 at her store The Tight Spot. The charge forced the store's bank account to be overdrawn, resulting in overdraft fees. Miller and PNC reached a settlement in 2012 after the store didn't refund the dance teacher.
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