Savannah Chrisley has revealed that her parents Todd and Julie are using their prison sentence in an ‘ironic’ way – by teaching financial courses in hopes of reducing their time behind bars.Â
The Chrisley Knows Best alum opened up about the lengths her mom and dad – who were found guilty of taking part in a $30 million tax fraud scheme and sentenced to 12 and seven years behind bars respectively – were going to in an attempt to shorten their sentence.Â
In a new episode of her Unlocked podcast, the 26-year-old shared that both Todd, 54, and Julie, 50, had been teaching classes while in prison and as a result, have had their sentence reduced.Â
While the reality TVÂ star understood why her mom and dad opted to give fellow prisoners a lesson on real estate and trauma, she admitted she found it ‘ironic’ that Todd began teaching financial courses.Â
Savannah Chrisley has revealed that her parents Todd and Julie are using their prison sentence in an ‘ironic’ way – by teaching financial courses in hopes of reducing their time behind bars
The Chrisley Knows Best alum opened up about the lengths her mom and dad – who were found guilty of taking part in a $30 million tax fraud scheme – were going toÂ
In an episode of her Unlocked podcast, the 26-year-old shared that both Todd, 54, and Julie, 50, had been teaching classes while in prison and as a result, have had their sentence reduced
She said: ‘Dad’s definitely taught some classes too. Trauma is one of them. I think another one was a financial class, which, how ironic?’Â
Savannah noted that the ‘whole system is out of whack’ before sharing that her ‘overachieving mother’ was also teaching courses.Â
‘I know she’s [Julie] definitely taught classes, like she taught a real estate class, she’s got all these certificates from teaching and completing classes and all these things. Overachiever Julie is…always been,’ she added.Â
According to the 26-year-old, her parents are benefitting from the First Step Act.Â
The First Step Act helps to assist prisoners by allowing them to take or teach classes while in jail.Â
By taking and teaching courses, inmates are able to reduce their sentences.Â
Both Todd and Julie have had their time shortened due to these courses.Â
Savannah explained: ‘That’s what mom and dad’s reductions were. Good time credits. FSA credits.Â
She said: ‘Dad’s definitely taught some classes too. Trauma is one of them. I think another one was a financial class, which, how ironic?’
Savannah noted that the ‘whole system is out of whack’ before sharing that her ‘overachieving mother’ was also teaching courses
According to the 26-year-old, her parents are benefitting from the First Step Act, which allows them to take and teach courses to shorten their time behind bars
‘They get 15 days off for every 30 they spend [teaching or learning]. Something of that nature.’Â
She added: ‘It definitely has helped to reduce sentences. We’re grateful. We’re grateful there are programs out there that help to get your loved ones home sooner.’Â
Todd and Julie were sentenced to 12 and seven years respectively for fraud and tax evasion last year and surrendered to their respective prisons in Florida and Kentucky in mid-January.
However, due to the First Step Act, Todd had his 12-year sentence reduced by two years, while Julie’s seven-year sentence was slashed by 14 months.
The father-of-five is now set to be released from the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola on January 22, 2033.Â
Meanwhile, Julie will be released from the Federal Medical Center Lexington on October 19th, 2028.
Although Savannah is getting used to the ‘status quo’ of being without her parents, she reflected on how the eight-month mark brought up difficult feelings for the family.
Todd and Julie were sentenced to 12 and seven years respectively for fraud and tax evasion last year and surrendered to their respective prisons in Florida and Kentucky in mid-January
The father-of-five is now set to be released from the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola on January 22, 2033
Meanwhile, Julie will be released from the Federal Medical Center Lexington on October 19th, 2028
She explained: ‘Yesterday was exactly eight months since Mom and Dad had been gone, and it really hits.  Â
‘I think it hit everyone pretty hard. I know for me, the kids and I just hung out at the house all day yesterday, and we all were just in our own kind of weird moods.Â
‘It’s sad, because you think of all the life that is moving on without them and even just me dating. I would love to go and tell my mom anytime something good happens or anytime something bad happens.Â
‘But it’s not like I can pick up the phone and call. And so it’s really sad to see the amount of things they’re missing out on.’
Their attorney, Jay Surgent, previously spoke about Todd and Julie’s reduced sentences.Â
He told People, ‘They were able to get some time off for both of them.’Â
He noted that he’s confident that the legal proceedings set to take place on November 1 could reduce their sentences further.Â
Their attorney, Jay Surgent, noted that he’s confident that the legal proceedings set to take place on November 1 could reduce their sentences further
Although Savannah is getting used to the ‘status quo’ of being without her parents, she reflected on how the eight-month mark brought up difficult feelings for the family
Jay added: ‘There’s going to be the adoption of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, changes, modifications, recommendations for reduction of sentences for nonviolent offenders. So [I] don’t know at this point in time, but they should be getting two points a piece for that. So that’ll further reduce their sentences.’Â
In May, a source told DailyMail.com that mom-of-three Julie is ‘not doing well at all’ in prison, with the insider adding that the former reality TV star has been consumed by remorse over the role she played in the $30 million crime.
‘She has broken down. She is not doing well at all,’ the source shared. ‘She cannot fathom how she will spend years being locked up and feels that she let her family down.’
The insider added that Julie – who is on month four of her lengthy sentence – is now telling friends that she is furious with herself for allowing her husband Todd who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to convince her that they would ‘never go to jail’ for the scheme.
‘Todd assured her that they would not go to jail and now Julie regrets what she did in the name of fame,’ they continued, adding that the ex-reality matriarch is losing all hope that the pair will manage to pull off a successful appeal.
Savannah has previously spoken out about the struggles she has since had to overcome while looking after her younger brother, Grayson, 17, and 10-year-old niece Chloe (pictured)
The stars rose to fame thanks to their USA reality show Chrisley Knows Best, which premiered in 2014 and documented their day-to-day lives alongside their children
Savannah has previously spoken out about the struggles she has since had to overcome while looking after her younger brother, Grayson, 17, and niece Chloe, 10, who was adopted by Todd and Julie in 2016.Â
Todd and Julie have three other kids, Lindsie, 33, Chloe’s father Kyle, 31, and youngest son Chase, 27. The couple have been raising Chloe since she was an infant due to Kyle’s substance abuse issues, and they legally adopted her in 2016.
The stars rose to fame thanks to their USA reality show Chrisley Knows Best, which premiered in 2014 and documented their day-to-day lives alongside their children. It went on for nine seasons before it was recently canceled amid the scandal.
In the series, Todd and Julie worked hard to portray the image of devoted parents and devout Christians – but they saw their picture-perfect on-screen images ripped apart when it was brought to light that they had scammed the bank by submitting fake documents when applying for loans.
In addition, Todd’s former business partner Mark Braddock shocked the world when he claimed that he had a gay love affair with the 54-year-old father-of-five during the trial – further shattering the reality star’s long-cultivated reputation.
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