Julie Chrisley Looks Unrecognizable in First Photo After Prison

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Julie Chrisley is making some changes after regaining her freedom.

On that unforgettable day following her prison release, I, an ardent admirer of the Chrisley Knows Best star, couldn’t help but notice a striking transformation during her public appearance in Nashville, Tennessee. The woman who graced our screens before serving her sentence in 2023 bore little resemblance to the radiant figure she had become.

On May 29th, during a visit to a local butcher shop, the matriarch was spotted sporting a new hairstyle – shoulder-length brunette with visible gray roots. This change was captured in a photo acquired by Fox News Digital. She wore a beige top and flashed a smile as she exited the store.

52-year-old Julie and her husband, Todd Chrisley, who is 56 years old, received a complete pardon from President Donald Trump on May 27, following their incarceration for more than two years due to bank fraud and tax evasion charges. Subsequently, Julie was discharged from a federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 28, while Todd was freed from custody in Pensacola, Florida, on the same day.

Before they were granted clemency, the couple who got married in 1996 were facing many more years in prison. Julie was expected to be released in January 2028, whereas Todd’s sentence was set to extend until April 2032.

Following Trump’s act of clemency, Todd and Julie’s kids have shown appreciation for the decision. Their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, commented that her parents now have the opportunity to begin a new chapter in their lives.

In a video posted on Instagram on May 27th, the 27-year-old expressed disbelief, saying “I can’t wrap my head around it being genuine.” They were clearly agitated, exclaiming “I’m really struggling to accept this.

Later on, Chase Chrisley, who is 28 years old, expressed his gratitude – both to God and to former President Trump – as he received a pardon.

He expressed deep gratitude to have his parents back at home, stating it to TopMob News, “and we’re all united as a family once more!

Additionally, Todd’s children from his former marriage with Teresa Terry, Lindsie Chrisley (aged 35) and Kyle Chrisley (aged 33), have also responded to this recent news. Lindsie posted a positive message on social media, while Kyle expressed feeling thrilled about his father’s release and looking forward to a new beginning.

He shared with TopMob News that they are eagerly anticipating returning home to spend time with their family. Additionally, he continues to hold onto the hope that a new reconciliation might transpire.

For more on Julie and Todd’s legal case, keep reading.

In August 2019, a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie on 12 charges. These charges include wire fraud, attempting to deceive banks, and defrauding the U.S. government. As reported by NBC News, the alleged deceit dates back to the mid-2000s and involves various actions such as evading approximately $2 million in state taxes from 2008 to 2016 and concealing more than a million dollars from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

A day prior to the issuance of the indictment, Todd asserted that he and his spouse were not guilty, and instead alleged that a loyal staff member had been embezzling from and extorting them.

He asserted in a social media post that there is no secret or cause for embarrassment regarding his actions, as he is certain of their innocence. Not only does he believe this, but he also has substantial proof and numerous supporting witnesses to back up his claim.

Three years passed before the stars of Chrisley Knows Best stood trial. After three weeks of hearings, they, who had maintained their innocence, were found guilty on all charges related to tax evasion and bank fraud on June 7, 2022.

The U.S. attorney’s office claimed that the pair, along with their accountant Peter Tarantino (who was tried alongside them), were involved in a scheme to deceive banks out of approximately $30 million over a ten-year period.

In Keri Farley’s June 2022 statement as Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, she emphasized that regardless of one’s reputation, wealth, or status, dishonesty through lying, cheating, and stealing will not evade justice. Her words underline the fact that when motivated by greed, those who commit financial crimes are ultimately found guilty, demonstrating that such actions do not yield a profitable outcome.

After a five-month delay, the Northern District of Georgia handed down prison sentences for Todd and Julie. Todd received a sentence of twelve years, while Julie was sentenced to seven years. (Peter was given a sentence of three years in prison.)

For approximately ten years, the accused individuals swindled banks out of numerous millions of dollars without meeting their federal tax obligations, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan in a statement from November 2022. The severity of their prison terms demonstrates the scale of their criminal activity and should act as a deterrent for anyone considering misusing our country’s community banking system for illicit personal profit.

In September 2023, the release dates for both Julie and Todd were brought forward: Julie will now be freed a year and three months ahead of schedule, and Todd’s release is planned two years before his original 2035 date.

Todd and Julie are undeniably exemplary inmates who were given unusually long prison terms,” said Jay Surgent, their lawyer, to Insider in September 2023. “Currently, I understand Todd’s sentence has been reduced to ten years, while Julie is now serving a five-year term.

In January 2023, the pair commenced their individual jail terms. Todd was incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Pensacola in Florida, while Julie served hers at a separate federal penitentiary in Lexington, Kentucky.

Approximately six months after Julie and Todd were incarcerated in separate facilities, Savannah Chrisley offered some insights about their well-being. She disclosed that there was no communication between her parents while they served their sentences.

195 days had passed since they last communicated, as she expressed in her Instagram post from August 2023. My heart is heavy with sorrow… I implore anyone who can, please aid in achieving justice!

She also pushed back at rumors about their time in prison.

She found it amusing since one remarked, “He’s let himself go,” in her podcast Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley. However, she pointed out that hair dye isn’t available in prisons, thus the gray hair. If given a chance to speak to him now, she would say, “Maintain the gray look! It suits you well; you have a fantastic prison barber.

Speaking from within the confines of the federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, I found myself at the receiving end of unfair treatment. Here’s my account…

In a phone conversation during the December 2023 episode of Cuomo, he stated that the food was not fresh, as it had surpassed its expiration date by a full year.

He went on to say, “There are rats and squirrels infesting our storage facility, which houses the food. They hid under layers of plastic but eventually gnawed through the ceiling due to the pervasive black mold. In doing so, they accidentally dislodged a deceased cat from the ceiling, causing it to fall onto the food pile.

In addition to the terrible events unfolding in the cafeteria, he claimed someone had even tried to blackmail his loved ones.

He mentioned that there was a picture taken of him when he was asleep, which was then sent to his daughter. He requested $2,600 per month for his security or protection in return.

In the absence of their parents due to legal restrictions, Savannah takes care of her younger siblings Grayson and Chloe. She’s expressed that the consequences of their incarceration and separation have had a significant impact on her emotionally.

She told TopMob News in March 2024 that the last conversation they had was when they parted ways before entering federal prison. She claimed that her father is facing a significant amount of backlash due to our vocal criticisms regarding the prison conditions.

In truth, she claimed that the prison authorities were obstructing a significant amount of his email communication with her mother.

Yet, she didn’t want the focus to be on her, but she did acknowledge that there were moments when the situation became overpowering for her.

Savannah shared during her April 2024 podcast, Unlocked, that she often feels the same way as her parents – a sense of life moving forward without them being deeply involved. Similarly, she experiences this feeling with certain individuals in her own life, as it seems they carry on living their lives without much regard for her presence.

She went on saying, “I’m finding it hard to breathe normally, as I juggle finances for the children and manage my role as a parent, all while navigating my personal relationships.

2024 saw my heart racing as I heard the news: Julie’s seven-year prison sentence had been overturned by a three-judge panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals! Even though they upheld her convictions, this fan couldn’t contain their excitement when the court ruled that the judge during the 2022 trial had made an error in sentencing the beloved reality star.

In their decision, the judges noted that the district court did not clearly specify the evidence it used to convict Julie for losses prior to 2007. Since we cannot locate this evidence in the records ourselves, they decided to overturn Julie’s sentence and send the case back to the district court. The district court is now required to make the necessary factual determinations regarding the loss, restitution, forfeiture, and sentencing for Julie.

In the case at hand, it was transferred to a lower court for them to decide on any adjustments to her sentence, whereas Todd’s sentence remained unchanged.

Three months following the reversal of my prison sentence, an Atlanta court eventually confirmed my initial seven-year prison term. In a heartfelt display, I expressed my deep remorse – not only to the court but also to my cherished children.

Julie expressed remorse before the court, stating that she’s spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on her words and deeds, and regrets the circumstances that have brought us here. As reported by People, this was during the hearing on September 25th. She clarified that while she’s served 20 months in prison, her regret extends further back to the events leading up to the trial, and she apologizes for her actions that contributed to our current situation.

As a committed family member, I’ve left no stone unturned in bridging the gap between us. I’ve undergone numerous skill-building assessments, including mastering the art of driving a forklift and serving food with finesse, to name a few. This journey has been my most challenging yet. My children have endured more than anyone should, and for that, I cannot express enough remorse.

The Chrisley family is returning home. They were granted clemency by former President Donald Trump, as he shared during a call with Savannah on May 27, 2025.

Over the last two and a half years, Savannah has tirelessly worked to advocate for her parents’ release and their return home, as she shared in a statement with TopMob News. Today’s development is the realization of countless hopes and prayers, and Savannah expresses profound gratitude towards President Trump for acknowledging the truth and reuniting her family.

They were both released on May 28, 2025.

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2025-05-30 01:21