Karma, as they say, is a bitch.
Teresa and Joe Giudice, “stars” of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New Jersey” reality series found this out the hard way Monday when they were indicted on federal fraud charges.
The Giudices are being charged with lying on loan forms prior to the 2009 show, and covering up their improving financial situation in a bankruptcy filing after the show’s first season, and are accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports.
Teresa is known for being an obnoxious, shrill and Botoxed pile of New Jersey stereotypes, while Joe is known as being a lump on a log who deals in shady “pizza” business. The Giudices have four daughters aged four to 12.
According to New Jersey’s U.S. Attoney Paul Fishman, Joe failed to report earnings between 2004 and 2008 when he earned approximately $1 million, and used his brother’s ID to obtain a driver’s license in 2010. There were a total of 39 counts filed against the couple.
“The indictment returned today alleges the Guidices lied to the bankruptcy court, to the IRS and to a number of banks,” Fishman said in a statement. “Everyone has an obligation to tell the truth when dealing with the courts, paying their taxes and applying for loans or mortgages. That’s reality.”
Us Weekly estimates that if found guilty on all of the charges, the Giudices could spend up to 50 years behind bars. The Giudices are expected to appear before a magistrate judge on Tuesday.
It isn’t bad news for everyone, however. Executives at Bravo’s headquarters are most likely toasting their future ratings success with bottles of Veuve right now.