Kandi Burruss Defends Supporting Todd, Julie Chrisley’s Prison Release

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Kandi Burruss is clapping back at the haters.

A former star of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is speaking up in response to criticism, following her public show of support for Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were freed from prison on May 28, after receiving a pardon from then-President Donald Trump.

“Congratulations!!!!” Kandi replied on Instagram. “I’m so happy for yall!!!!”

Nevertheless, certain users swiftly criticized the ex-XScape singer for backing criminals who had been convicted of wire fraud, bank fraud conspiracy, and conspiring to defraud the U.S. in 2022.

Kandi’s response to the backlash?

The 49-year-old posted on X (previously known as Twitter) on June 3, asking, “What’s the issue here?” He had previously been friendly with Todd. Now that Todd and Julie have been released from jail, everyone seems agitated for no reason. His happiness for their release has nothing to do with his political views.

Although a few people questioned Kandi’s backing, she was also met with numerous compliments for her kindness due to her generous actions.

One user responded, “Indeed, even though individuals may hold distinct fundamental beliefs, it doesn’t preclude them from behaving as respectful humans.” I acknowledge that this concept can be challenging to grasp given the current state of the world.

The first individual expressed, “Even though you may cast different votes, it doesn’t mean you can’t remain friends,” and the second one simply said, “Kandi, there’s no need for you to justify yourself.

Kandi’s reply followed closely after Chase marked his 29th birthday on June 1, describing his meeting with Todd and Julie as “the most wonderful birthday present I could receive.

Ever since Todd and Juie, my beloved idols, stepped back into the world a week ago following their release, I’ve been eagerly awaiting news on how they’re embracing normalcy again. Not too long ago, Savannah Chrisley, their cherished daughter, offered an insightful update on how they are seizing every moment to make up for all those missed ones.

Savannah shared on her June 3 podcast episode, “Yesterday was simply wonderful,” she said, having just two days passed since her parents’ release. “I prepared a feast for the whole family last night; steaks, pasta, salads, potatoes – we had a veritable buffet. My parents relished it and were overjoyed.

Additionally, at 27 years old, she finds herself playing catch-up regarding her parents’ familiarity with social media platforms, particularly in this area.

On her first day back home, Savannah explained, “We spent the morning lounging on my bed, scrolling through my Instagram together. I filled her in on all the posts, videos, and updates since she’d been gone. It was fascinating to watch her responses and bring her up-to-date about what’s been happening in my life.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of Todd and Julie’s legal problems and prison releases.

In August 2019, a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie on 12 charges. These charges included wire fraud, conspiring to commit bank fraud, and defrauding the United States. According to a report by NBC News, the prosecutors allege that the fraud started in the mid-2000s. They claim that the couple attempted to evade nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016, as well as concealing over $1 million from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

A day prior to the issuance of the indictment, Todd insisted that he and his spouse were not guilty. Instead, he accused a trusted staff member of embezzling from and extorting them.

In his post on Instagram, he asserted, “There’s nothing secretive about our actions, and we have no reason to be embarrassed. We are confident that not only have we acted in an upright manner, but we possess a substantial amount of solid proof and numerous credible witnesses who can vouch for this.

Three years passed before the stars of Chrisley Knows Best stood trial. After a span of three weeks filled with testimonies, they, who had maintained their innocence by pleading not guilty, were found guilty on all charges of tax evasion and bank fraud on June 7, 2022.

In simpler terms, it was claimed that the two individuals and their accountant named Peter Tarantino (who was tried alongside them) were involved in a scheme to deceive multiple 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 status or wealth, dishonesty through lying, cheating, and stealing will not escape justice. The recent verdict of guilty on all counts against these three defendants serves as a reminder that acts driven by greed do not lead to financial success.

After five months, the Northern District of Georgia handed down a sentence for Todd, imprisoning him for twelve years, and for Julie, giving her a seven-year term. Meanwhile, Peter received a three-year sentence and was also imprisoned.

For about ten years, the defendants illegally obtained more than tens of millions of dollars from banks by committing fraud, all while avoiding paying their federal income taxes. In a statement made in November 2022, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized that the lengthy sentences handed down to them demonstrate the severity of their criminal act and should act as a deterrent to anyone considering abusing our country’s community banking system for illegal personal enrichment.

In September 2023, the lengths of Julie’s and Todd’s sentences were reduced. Julie is now set to be discharged a year and a half ahead of schedule, while Todd will be released two years before his previously planned 2035 date.

Jay Surgent stated to Insider in September 2023 that there’s no question about it, Todd and Julie are exemplary inmates who have been given unusually long sentences. “Todd’s sentence has been reduced to ten years,” he explained, “while Julie is currently serving a five-year term.

In January 2023, the pair commenced their individual prison 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 half a year since Julie and Todd were incarcerated in separate facilities, their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, provided some insights on their well-being. She disclosed that there was no communication between them while they served their sentences.

195 days of silence between us… she expressed on her Instagram story in August 2023. My heart aches… I beg for fairness and justice!

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

She found it amusing since one of them commented, “He’s let himself go,” according to her on the Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley podcast. Interestingly, you should know that hair dye isn’t available in prison shops. Therefore, naturally, his hair is gray. However, if he were out now, I would tell him not to change it, as it suits him well! He’s got a fantastic barber behind bars.

Instead, Todd expressed his concerns about the treatment he received at the federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, while he was incarcerated.

In a call for an interview on the December 2023 edition of Cuomo, he stated that the food was no longer fresh. Specifically, it had exceeded its expiration date by a year.

He went on to say, “There are rats and squirrels in the storage area where the food is kept. They concealed it with plastic sheets, but then they tore open the ceiling due to extensive black mold growth. In the process, they discovered a deceased cat up there, which eventually fell onto the food.

Besides the atrocities taking place in the cafeteria, he claimed that someone additionally tried to blackmail his relatives.

He mentioned that a picture was taken of him sleeping and it was forwarded to his daughter. In the message, he requested $2,600 per month for his security services.

Savannah, the guardian of her younger brothers Grayson and Chloe while their parents are serving their sentences, shared that the convictions and the distance between them have been a heavy burden for her.

In a conversation with TopMob News in March 2024, she disclosed that their last conversation took place before they were both admitted to federal prison. She claimed there has been significant backlash towards her father due to our vocal criticism of the prison conditions.

Indeed, she claimed that the prison authorities were hindering a significant amount of his email communications with her mother.

Although she didn’t want to make the situation all about her, she acknowledged that it could be overpowering on occasion.

Savannah shared on her podcast Unlocked in April 2024 that she struggles with the sensation that Mom and Dad are being left behind by life. Similarly, she often feels this way about certain people in her own life as it seems they just carry on living without giving much thought to those who have moved on.

She went on saying, “I’m finding it hard to breathe here, juggling between our family finances and being parents, while also managing my own relationships.

In June 2024, Julie’s seven-year prison term was overturned by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. While the panel confirmed her convictions, they found that the presiding judge during the 2022 trial had incorrectly calculated the sentence for the reality star.

In their decision, the judges mentioned that the district court failed to 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 loss, restitution, and forfeiture for Julie, and then re-sentence her accordingly.

In simpler terms, the decision regarding the adjustment of her sentence was passed to a lower court, whereas Todd’s sentence stayed unchanged.

After having her prison sentence reversed three months prior, an Atlanta court ultimately confirmed Julie’s initial seven-year prison term. In a heartfelt display, she apologized, not only to the court but also to her children.

Julie expressed her thoughts in court, stating, “Over a considerable period of time, I’ve pondered on what I wish to express, and I deeply regret my actions and circumstances that have brought us here today.” She added, “I’ve spent 20 months in prison, but the lead-up to this trial has been much longer, and for those regrettable actions that led to where we stand now, I offer my sincere apologies.

She’s made significant efforts to reconnect with her family by acquiring new abilities, such as learning to drive a forklift and mastering proper food service techniques. She admitted that this phase of her life has been the most challenging. She can never fully compensate her children for their hardships, and for this, she offers her sincere apologies.

The Chrisleys are returning home, as they’ve been granted a presidential pardon by Donald Trump, which he shared with Savannah during a phone conversation 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 expressed in a statement to TopMob News. This long-awaited moment is an answer to many prayers, and she expresses heartfelt gratitude towards President Trump for recognizing the truth and reuniting her family.

They were both released on May 28, 2025.

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2025-06-03 19:48