After sentencing on October 2, for several counts of loan and bankruptcy fraud, Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe are facing the aftermath of their legal battle. Giudice was sentenced to 15 months in prison, while her husband was sentenced to 41 months when they appeared at a courthouse in Newark, New Jersey.
Giudice said that she was “humbled” by the experience. “I’m so scared. I need to learn to do things for myself… I need to wake up,” she said. In addition to jail time, Giudice is required to pay $414,000 in restitution and serve two years of supervised release.
US District Court Judge Esther Salas reportedly said at the sentencing that although she had considered probation for Giudice, she felt that the case “merits incarceration” due to the fact that Giudice had failed to come clean about their assets before sentencing. “It feels like things have been hidden,” she said.
Why @Teresa_Giudice and her husband, Joe, are being sent to jail http://t.co/1Da1XGp2S6 #RHONJ pic.twitter.com/ysYQD5J70V
— People magazine (@peoplemag) October 3, 2014
According to prosecutors, Giudice did not include in a pre-sentencing list of assets several cars, ATVs and other items. She also reportedly claimed no jewelry and that her $3 million home only contained $25,000 of assets. Giudice’s legal troubles have also affected her work, with reports that she infuriated castmates by showing up late for a taping session for The Real Housewives of New Jersey. According to TMZ, Giudice showed up four hours late for a reunion taping on the afternoon of Sunday, October 5. She also reportedly disrupted taping by asking the crew to stop filming every now and then so she could take breaks, since she was “going through a lot.” Not only did she piss off castmates with her behavior, but she also annoyed Bravo executive Andy Cohen.
Teresa Giudice — Leaves Cast Members Fuming … Before Pre-Prison Reunion Taping http://t.co/LwY5P3af5s via @TMZ
— Anthony Michael (@tmzanthony) October 5, 2014
On the personal front, Giudice is faced with the problem of helping her children deal with their parents’ troubles. Giudice’s 13-year-old daughter Gia recently vented her feelings on Twitter. On the day of the sentencing, Gia tweeted, “Family forever,” in support of her parents. On Friday, she also tweeted, “Such an amazing support system it’s unreal.”
family forever
— Gia Giudice (@TrueGia) October 2, 2014
such an amazing support system it’s unreal
— Gia Giudice (@TrueGia) October 3, 2014
However, the family ordeal has also apparently been taking its toll on the teenager, despite her efforts to stay positive. “The little things matter to me but the big things matter to you,” she tweeted on October 4.
Giudice and her husband will reportedly be serving their jail time separately in order to ensure that their children will be cared for. According to Us Weekly, their lawyer Miles Feinstein told the judge during their trial that Giudice’s husband tried his best to exonerate her. “He wanted his wife to get the best deal she could get. He is a real man,” said Feinstein on Thursday.