EXCLUSIVE: Countdown To Lockdown — Teresa Giudice Fraud Trial

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Teresa and Joe Giudice

 

– CONFIRMED: Miles Feinstein, Joe Giudice’s attorney confirmed the couple is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, March 4th
– Teresa and Joe will both plead Guilty to Fraud with restitution/fines
– Joe will plead Guilty to Class D felonies
– Teresa will plead guilty to Class E felonies
– The timing of the plea agreement comes in conjunction with the conclusion of RHONJ season 6 filming
– Teresa delayed reaching a plea agreement to avoid Bravo cameras from capturing court proceedings and it’s subsequent fallout.
– Judge Salas will conduct sentencing at a later sentencing hearing date (separate)
– When Bravo was made aware of the reached plea agreement, their response was “No comment.”


How It Began…
Teresa Giudice joined the cast of the Real Housewives of New Jersey in March 2009. Initially she was brought on as Dina and Caroline Manzo’s friend who loved to shop, get spa treatments and spend time at the Jersey Shore with her three young daughters and husband, Joe, who owned a construction business. The Giudice’s stunned viewers with their over-the-top lavish spending and vagarious flaunting of wealth. They lived the high life…$2 million dollar sprawling estate, designer clothes, luxury cars and lavish parties. Teresa spent more than $120,000 on furniture for a single room. Then turned around and filed for bankruptcy in October 2009, claiming they were a staggering $10.98 million in debt.


The Infamous Flip…
It wasn’t long before the Jersey native’s ugly side came out as she argued with co-star Danielle Staub over Staub’s sketchy past. The feud led to Giudice’s infamous wild-eyed, table-flipping freak-out on the season one finale, in which she upended a fully loaded dinner table while declaring Staub a “prostitution whore.” “She just snapped,” Caroline Manzo admitted. “We all have our breaking points.” Giudice, however, said her husband, Joe, was “really turned on” by her display. “When we went home we really got it on,” she smiled. “I was like, ‘I should flip tables more often.'”


Her Business Plan…
After giving birth to fourth daughter Audriana, Teresa got herself a new body – upping from an A cup to a C – and a new career as a cookbook author. Her first book, “Skinny Italian”, published in May 2010, became a New York Times Best-Seller, as did her two follow-ups. She also released a cocktail and hair-care line, but her sudden success caused friction among her cast mates. As new Housewives – including her sister-in-law Melissa Gorga and Cousin Kathy Wakile – joined the show, Giudice fought with them too, prompting former friend Jacqueline Laurita to Tweet, “Teresa is scum!”


Trouble At Home…
Her career was riding high, but Giudice’s personal life hit a low as she and Joe continued to struggle with their bankruptcy filing – a sale of their personal effects was scheduled and then canceled amid claims that they had hidden assets and undervalued items. Even more worrying for Guidice was her husband’s January 2010 DUI arrest, which led to him being sent to jail later that year to serve 10 days for driving on a suspended license. He was arrested again in 2011 for fraudulently obtaining a new license using his brother’s ID (and faced up to 10 years in prison). Giudice also laughed off rumors that “Juicy Joe,” as she nicknamed him, was a cheater who may have fathered a love child. But rumors of his infidelity surfaced again in 2013.


Criminal Conduct…
The couple’s money issues reached a whole new level of trouble when they were both indicted on federal fraud charges on July 29, 2013. In the 41 count indictment, the pair were accused of exaggerating their income while applying for loans before the Real Housewives debuted in 2009, and then hiding their improved fortunes in their bankruptcy filing. “Teresa will plead ‘not guilty,'” her attorney stated as the couple, who could potentially serve 30 years in prison, were released on $500,000 bail each. In a statement, Teresa said she supported her husband and wanted to resolve the charges as soon as possible. “I am committed to my family and intend to maintain our lives in the best way possible, which includes continuing my career,” the 41-year-old said.


Tuesday March 4, 2014…
Allegedly, Joe and Teresa will serve jail time separately, if U.S. District Judge Esther Salas accepts the pre arranged deal on March 4. Joe and Teresa will both plead guilty to bank fraud, loan application fraud and bankruptcy fraud. Joe will plead guilty to one tax evasion charge for failing to file tax returns during 2005-2009.

Joe and Teresa used fake paycheck stubs, tax returns and W-2 forms to inflate their incomes and obtain nearly $5 million in mortgages and other loans. They also concealed their true income after filing for bankruptcy in 2009.

According to a source, Teresa will serve jail time first then be transferred to home monitored arrest. Joe will serve at minimum 10 years. A plea deal will be made in regards to Joe’s forged identity/DUI case, per a close source to the case.

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