News
Reality TV Stars Face Up to 20 Years in Prison for Tax Fraud
Reality TV stars Todd, and Julie Chrisley were motivated by greed when they engaged in a massive bank fraud tax evasion scheme, concealing their wealth from tax authorities. According to federal prosecutors, they flaunted their lavish lifestyle, arguing that reality TV stars should face lengthy prison sentences.
The Chrisleys rose to prominence through their show “Chrisley Knows Best,” which follows their close-knit, boisterous family. They were convicted on federal charges in June and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross in a hearing that begins Monday and is expected to last Tuesday.
According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors determined the upper end of the sentencing guideline range for Todd Chrisley is nearly 22 years and about 12 and a half years for Julie Chrisley using a process that calculates a sentencing guideline range based on several factors. Prosecutors wrote in court that the couple should be ordered to pay restitution.
“The Chrisleys have built an empire on the lie that their wealth was earned through hard work and dedication,” prosecutors wrote. “The unanimous verdict establishes the truth: Todd and Julie Chrisley are career swindlers who have made a living by hopping from one fraud scheme to the next, lying to banks, stiffing vendors, and evading taxes at every turn.”
TV Stars Found Guilty
The Chrisleys disagree with the government’s calculation of guidelines. Todd Chrisley’s attorneys argued in a filing that he should not be sentenced to more than nine years in prison and that the judge should sentence him below the guidelines’ lower end. Julie Chrisley’s attorneys wrote that probation with special conditions and no prison time would be a reasonable sentence for her.
In June, the Chrisleys were both found guilty of bank fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Julie Chrisley was also found guilty of wire fraud and obstructing the administration of justice.
The couple’s accountant, Peter Tarantino, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the IRS and willfully filing false tax returns. He will be sentenced alongside the Chrisleys.
According to prosecutors, the couple submitted forged documents to banks and obtained more than $30 million in fraudulent loans. When Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy, they walked away from their obligation to repay the loans once that scheme fell apart.
While in bankruptcy, they began their reality show and “promoted their wealth and lifestyle to the American public,” according to prosecutors. When they started making millions of dollars from their show, they hid the money from the IRS to avoid paying taxes.
Fraud and obstructive behaviour
Prosecutors wrote that the Chrisleys submitted a false document to a grand jury investigating their crimes and then convinced friends and family members to tell lies while testifying under oath during their trial. Prosecutors wrote that neither of them has shown any remorse and has instead blamed others for their own criminal behaviour.
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 behaviour for a prolonged period of time.”
In a court filing, Todd Chrisley’s lawyers stated that the government never produced any evidence that he intended to defraud any of the banks and that the loss amount calculated by the government was incorrect.
They also pointed out that the offences he was convicted of occurred long ago. He has no serious criminal history and medical conditions that “would render incarceration disproportionately harsh,” they wrote.
Letters from friends and business associates demonstrating “a history of good deeds and striving to help others” were submitted by his lawyers.
TV Stars Seek Probation
TV Stars Seek ProbationAccording to his lawyers, people who rely on Chrisley, including his mother and the “scores of people” employed by his television shows, will suffer while he is imprisoned.
They urged the judge to sentence him to less than the guideline range, followed by supervised release and restitution.
Julie Chrisley’s attorneys stated in a filing that she played only a minor role in the conspiracy and was not present when the loans mentioned in sentencing documents were obtained.
Her lawyers requested a sentence of probation, restitution, and community service because she has no prior convictions, is an asset to her community, and has “extraordinary family obligations.”
The Chrisleys have three children, one of whom is 16 years old, and have full custody of Todd Chrisley’s son from a previous marriage’s 10-year-old daughter. According to the filing, Julie Chrisley is the primary caregiver for her ailing mother-in-law.
Her attorneys presented letters from family and friends demonstrating that she is “hardworking, unfailingly selfless, devoted to her family and friends, highly respected by all who know her, and strong of character.”
If the judge sentences both Chrisleys to prison, Julie Chrisley’s lawyers have asked that their sentences be staggered so that she can remain supervised until her husband’s sentence is completed or until their granddaughter turns 18.
VOR News
The new head of the Army has stated that Britain must be prepared to fight a war within three years.
Gen Sir Roland Walker has issued a warning about a variety of risks in what he calls a “increasingly volatile” environment.
However, he stated that war was not inevitable and that the Army had “just enough time” to prepare to prevent conflict.
He stated that the Army’s fighting capacity would be doubled by 2027 and tripled by the end of the decade.
Gen Walker warned that the Britain was under threat from a “axis of upheaval” in his first speech as Prime Minister on Tuesday.
Among the primary concerns confronting the Britain in the next years, as noted by the general in a briefing, is an enraged Russia, which may seek vengeance on the West for helping Ukraine, regardless of who wins the war.
He stated: “It doesn’t matter how it finishes. I believe Russia will emerge from it weaker objectively – or completely – but still very, very dangerous and seeking some form of retaliation for what we have done to assist Ukraine.”
Britain’s Government Defence Review and Military Challenges
He also warned that China was determined to retake Taiwan, and Iran was likely to seek nuclear weapons.
He stated that the threats they posed may become particularly acute in the next three years, and that these countries had formed a “mutual transactional relationship” since the war in Ukraine, sharing weaponry and technology.
However, he stated that the path to conflict was not “inexorable” if the UK re-established credible land troops to assist its deterrent strategy for avoiding war.
In his speech, he described his force of slightly over 70,000 regular troops as a “medium-sized army” and made no direct call for additional resources or men.
However, he pushed the British Army to adapt swiftly, focussing on technology such as artificial intelligence and weaponry rather than numbers.
His ultimate goal is for the Army to be capable of destroying an opponent three times its size.
This would entail firing quicker and farther, he said, aided by lessons learnt from the Ukraine war.
The general’s speech at the Royal United Services Institute land warfare conference comes only one week after the government began a “root and branch” defence review to “take a fresh look” at the challenges facing the armed services.
Defence Secretary John Healey launched the assessment, describing the existing status of the armed forces as “hollowed-out” and stating that “procurement waste and neglected morale cannot continue”.
According to the most recent Ministry of Defence (MoD) numbers from April 2024, the Britain’s regular Army forces total 75,325 troops (excluding Gurkhas and volunteers).
That figure has been declining in recent years, as recruiting has failed to match retention. The previous Conservative administration lowered the planned headcount from 82,000 to 72,500 by 2025.
Members of the NATO military alliance have agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence by 2024, but several countries are unlikely to fulfil this goal.
The Britain presently spends 2.3% of its GDP on defence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously stated that the defence review will include a “roadmap” for increasing this to 2.5%, however he has yet to provide a date for this promise.
Source: BBC
News
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
PARIS — Katie Ledecky is looking for clean Olympic races. On Wednesday, Hope had pretty much reached her limit.
The American swimmer hopes to add to her six gold medals as she competes in the 400, 800, and 1,500 meters at the Paris Games. Her program starts with the heavy 400 on Saturday, featuring Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
The 27-year-old Katie is competing in her fourth Summer Olympics, but the first since a doping scandal involving almost two dozen Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned chemical before the Tokyo Games — yet were permitted to compete with no consequences. The controversy has raised serious worries regarding the effectiveness of anti-doping initiatives.
Katie Ledecky | Vogue Image
“I hope everyone here is going to be competing clean this week,” Ledecky claimed. “But what truly counts is, were they training cleanly? Hopefully this has been the case. Hopefully, there has been worldwide testing.”
The International Olympic Committee has expressed concern over the ongoing US investigation into possible doping by Chinese swimmers. While awarding the 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, the IOC urged Utah officials to do whatever they could to stop the FBI investigation.
“I think everyone’s heard what the athletes think,” Katie added. “They seek transparency. They want more answers to the remaining questions. At this point, we are here to race. We are going to race whoever is in the lane next to us.
“We are not paid to conduct the tests, so we trust those who follow their regulations. That applies both today and in the future.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
SOURCE | AP
As the summer holidays begin, London may experience an official heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 29 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office predicts a long period of sunny and dry weather for London after a soggy spring and summer.
After a cloudy day on Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach 27C on Sunday, with lots of sunlight.
On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are forecast to peak at 29 degrees Celsius. Monday is forecast to offer more sunlight, while Tuesday may see some gloomy weather.
Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 20s next week, with lows of approximately 18C.
According to the Met Office, a heatwave is “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.”
In the United Kingdom, a heatwave is proclaimed when daily temperatures meet or surpass a certain level for at least three consecutive days.
In London, the heatwave threshold is 28 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office reported that the UK is experiencing hotter and wetter weather on average due to climate change.
The UK experienced its warmest May and April on record this year, despite damp and dismal conditions in many areas.
According to the Met Office’s State Of The UK Climate 2023 report published on Thursday, the UK experienced historic levels of extreme weather last year.
In the United Kingdom, 2023 was the second warmest year on record, bringing storms, flooding, strong heatwaves, and rising sea levels; only 2022 was warmer.
It was 0.8°C higher than the average from 1991 to 2020, and 1.66°C higher than the 1961 to 1990 average.
However, 2023 will be a “cool year” in comparison to 2100, based on the planet’s warming trajectory.
The government’s plan to adapt to the hazards presented by climate change is currently being challenged in the High Court by campaigners who allege the Tory administration’s July 2023 National Adaptation Programme (NAP) fails to adequately address 61 concerns.
Source: The Standard
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