Reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley’s son was seriously injured in a car accident over the weekend – two days before their sentencing on fraud charges where they face years in prison.
Grayson Chrisley, 16, was driving his Ford F-150 on I-65 in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday evening when he plowed into the back of a Dodge pickup truck during rush hour, police said.
Photos of Grayson’s totaled car obtained by TMZ showed the white truck completely damaged in the front with a broken windshield on the driver’s side.
Grayson was rushed to hospital with head injuries, and police said when they arrived on scene at 5.30pm he couldn’t remember wat happened. The driver of the red Dodge pickup truck was also injured, but did not need medical treatment.
The accident on Saturday came two days before Todd and Julie’s sentencing after they defrauded banks out of $30 million in loans to fund their lavish lifestyle.
Todd, 63, could face 17 and 22 years in prison, while Julie, 49, could face 10 to 13
The couple is known for their hit show Chrisley Knows Best, which depicts their seemingly picture-perfect southern lifestyle, and is USA Network’s most watched original series.
They have been married 26 years and share five children: Lindsie, 32; Kyle, 30; Chase, 25; Savannah, 24; and Grayson, 16.
Reality star Grayson Chrisley, 16, is seriously injured after plowing his truck into another while in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday
Grayson was on I-65 in his Ford F-150 when he went straight into a Dodge pickup truck at around 5.30pm
Grayson told police that he didn’t remember the accident and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Pictured: The red Dodger Grayson ran his truck into
The accident occurred a few days before Todd and Julie Chrisley are to be sentenced for tax fraud
Todd and Julie were found guilty on federal charges in June and are set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross in a hearing that started on Monday and is likely to extend into Tuesday.
Todd Chrisley, 53, faces between 17 and 22 years in prison while Julie Chrisley, 49, faces between 10 and 13 years.
The Chrisleys maintain they did nothing wrong, have referred to their conviction as a ‘shakedown’, and claimed they are the victim of a dishonest ex-employee.
Prosecutors are seeking the harsh sentencing for the pair after they ‘built an empire based on the lie that their wealth came from dedication and hard work’.
‘The jury’s unanimous verdict sets the record straight: Todd and Julie Chrisley are career swindlers who have made a living by jumping from one fraud scheme to another, lying to banks, stiffing vendors, and evading taxes at every corner,’ prosecutors said in a court filing.
Todd and Julie disagree with the government’s guideline calculations. Todd Chrisley’s lawyers wrote in a filing that he should not face more than nine years in prison and that the judge should sentence him below the lower end of the guidelines. Julie Chrisley’s lawyers wrote that a reasonable sentence for her would be probation with special conditions and no prison time.
In June, a jury found the couple guilty of a years-long tax and banking fraud conspiracy that allowed them to borrow $30million by inflating their earnings. The pair were spotted looking glum as they left their $3.375 million home in Brentwood, Tennessee in a black SUV
The couple were snapped emerging from their Brentwood, Tennessee mansion Friday in their black Cadillac Escalade
Julie, 49, appeared glum as she pulled out of the driveway with Todd, 53, in the passenger seat
Todd is facing 17 and 22 years in prison, while Julie faces 10 to 13 years
The couple’s multimillion dollar home in Brentwood. Their show depicted their seemingly picture-perfect southern lifestyle
Todd and Julie (pictured) maintain they did nothing wrong, have referred to their conviction as a ‘shakedown’
The couple were convicted in June on charges of bank fraud, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the IRS. Julie Chrisley was also convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
Peter Tarantino, an accountant hired by the couple, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the IRS and willfully filing false tax returns. He is set to be sentenced along with the Chrisleys.
Prosecutors have said the couple submitted fake documents to banks and managed to secure more than $30 million in fraudulent loans. Once that scheme fell apart, they walked away from their responsibility to repay the loans when Todd declared bankruptcy.
While in bankruptcy, they started their reality show and ‘flaunted their wealth and lifestyle to the American public,’ prosecutors wrote. When they began making millions from their show, they hid the money from the IRS to avoid paying taxes.
The Chrisleys submitted a false document to a grand jury that was investigating their crimes and then convinced friends and family members to tell lies while testifying under oath during their trial, prosecutors wrote. Neither of them has shown any remorse and they have, instead, blamed others for their own criminal conduct, prosecutors wrote.
‘The Chrisleys are unique given the varied and wide-ranging scope of their fraudulent conduct and the extent to which they engaged in fraud and obstructive behavior for a prolonged period of time,’ prosecutors wrote.
Pictured: Grayson and Todd inside a truck during an episode where the now 16-year-old learns how to drive
The family is best known for their reality show Chrisley Knows Best, which started in 2014 and is currently still on. Pictured: (l-r) Faye Chrisley, Lindsie Chrisley Campbell, Grayson Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley
The couple could face up to 22 years in prison for defrauding banks out of millions of dollars to fund their lavish lifestyle
Todd’s lawyers wrote in a court filing that the government never produced any evidence that he meant to defraud any of the banks and that the loss amount calculated by the government is incorrect.
They also noted that the offenses of which he was convicted were committed a long time ago. He has no serious criminal history and has medical conditions that ‘would make imprisonment disproportionately harsh,’ they wrote.
His lawyers submitted letters from friends and business associates that show ‘a history of good deeds and striving to help others.’
People who rely on Chrisley – including his mother and the ‘scores of people’ employed by his television shows – will be harmed while he’s in prison, his lawyers wrote.
They urged the judge to give him a prison sentence below the guideline range followed by supervised release and restitution.
Julie’s lawyers wrote in a filing that she had a minimal role in the conspiracy and was not involved when the loans discussed in sentencing documents were obtained. She has no prior convictions, is an asset to her community and has ‘extraordinary family obligations,’ her lawyers wrote, as they asked for a sentence of probation, restitution and community service.
The Chrisleys have three children together, including one who is 16, and also have full custody of the 10-year-old daughter of Todd Chrisley’s son from a prior marriage. Julie Chrisley is the primary caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law, the filing says.
Her lawyers submitted letters from family and friends that show she is ‘hard-working, unfailingly selfless, devoted to her family and friend, highly respected by all who know her, and strong of character.’
If the judge does sentence both Chrisleys to prison, Julie Chrisley’s lawyers asked that their prison terms be staggered so she can remain on supervised release until her husband is done serving his sentence or until their granddaughter turns 18.