Teresa Giudice has made a major step in putting her fraud case behind her. She has paid $200,000 in restitution that she was ordered to have in-hand at her sentencing trial — which was almost two weeks ago! (see update below)
But now, with this major hurdle out of the way, although there is still over $200,000 more to pay, the Real Housewives of New Jersey star can focus on what is really important. Preparing her family for her absence when she serves her 15 month prison sentence.
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On October 2nd, Judge Esther Salas sentenced Teresa to 15 month in prison on various fraud charges. Her husband, Joe Giudice was sentenced to 41 months and since he is not a U.S. citizen, he also faces deportation back to Italy.
Teresa and Joe’s plea deal had been worked out for weeks prior to the sentencing and part of the plea bargain,Teresa had been told to pay the $200,000 either before or at sentencing. At the sentencing her lawyer told Judge Salas that he “was waiting for the checks to clear. About $150,000 was secured through a contract advance of Teresa’s while the remaining $50,000 was obtained as a loan from a friend.”
Salas, who was already not a fan of the couple, made it very clear why the funds were not available when they had had weeks in order to get it together.
Last week in their one-on-one with Andy Cohen the couple gave two very different answers when Andy asked why they didn’t have the money together. Teresa claimed that they simply didn’t have it yet. Joe mumbled something that sounded like he had set it up and didn’t know what happened after that. Classic Juicy Joe!
Update – This $200K is not part of her $400K owed. The $200K paid this week stemmed from her initial plea deal $$ that was supposed to be paid BEFORE her sentencing, but she didn’t. She still owes the $400,000+. Shoutout to Tamara Tattles.
TELL US! WHERE DO YOU THINK TERESA GOT THE MONEY?
[photo courtesy: Charles Sykes/Bravo]
