Lying For Loans, Running From Taxes, Hiding Millions: 'Real Housewives' Crooks Teresa & Joe Giudice's Bumpy Road To Prison
Oct. 2 2014, Published 3:15 p.m. ET
Teresa and Joe Giudice may act like victims on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, but authorities have exposed years of lies and deceit in their quest to live in luxury.
Teresa Giudice
June 2004- The couple, married in 1999, claims Teresa is the self-employed owner of G&G Stucco and makes $14,750 a month while applying for a loan. They receive $20,000, but authorities say the disgraced Real Housewives of New Jersey star was actually unemployed during this time.
Teresa Giudice
September 2004- Just three months later, the pair alleges that Teresa actually works as an low-paid assistant at Modern Era Investment Corp. They are approved for a $121,500 loan.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
March 2005- The next spring, the couple reports Teresa has been the owner of G&G Stucco for six years while applying for yet another loan. They receive $141,500.
Joe Giudice
April 2005- Joe neglects to file an income tax return for 2004— and similarly fails to do so for the next four years.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
November 2005- The government claims the couple use fake W-2 forms and fake tax returns to take out an $800,000 construction loan.
Joe Giudice
December 2006- Using the fake forms, Joe applies for a home equity line or credit. He withdraws $251,360.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
February 2008- The couple receives another construction loan for $1.7 million.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
July 2008- The couple is approved for another $1.7 million loan. In the application, they claim to have $500,000 in a private bank account, which turns out to be a total lie.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
October 2009- Though the couple— now famous for their new roles on Real Housewives of New Jersey— begin receiving money from endorsements, interviews and appearances, they file for bankruptcy protection. Joe claims he makes $3,250 a month as owner of G&G Stucco, and Teresa earns $3,333 from her gig on the Bravo hit.
Teresa Giudice
September 2010- The couple's bankruptcy trustee claims the family has hidden assets and income, including a $280,000 advance for Teresa's cookbook and her monthly Bravo salary of $7,083.
Joe Giudice
September 2011- Joe pleads the Fifth Amendment when asked about claims he hid income and assets in his bankruptcy filing.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
July 2013- The couple is indicted on 39 counts of bank, bankruptcy, wire and mail fraud. In November, the couple is slapped with two more fraud charges. Prosecutors claim Joe stated Teresa earned $15,000 a month as a realtor on a loan application when she was in fact unemployed.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
March 2014- Joe and Teresa plead guilty to several fraud charges as part of a plea deal. According to NJ.com, Teresa now faces less than two years in prison, while Joe could be shut away for a minimum of three years.
House
September 2014- Finally getting realistic, the couple attempts to unload their Towaco, New Jersey mansion for nearly $4 million.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
September 2014- A judge denies the couple's bankruptcy discharge, leaving them with more than $13 million in debt.
Teresa and Joe Giudice
October 2014- Doomsday: After two postponed dates, Teresa and Joe arrived to court for their sentencing in Newark, New Jersey. Joe was sentenced to 41 months in prison, while Teresa's fate is not yet determined.