PHOTOSOrder In The Court! Jen Shah, Erika Jayne, Teresa Giudice & More Housewives Who Have Been Caught Up In Legal Drama: Photos
These Real Housewives have experienced some real legal drama! From alleged telemarketing schemes to serving prison time, Bravo stars — Jen Shah, Erika Jayne, Teresa Giudice, Luann de Lesseps and Dorit Kemsley — have all had their court issues played out in the public eye for the world to be the judge and jury.
Jen Shah
In March of 2021, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star, 47, was arrested along with her assistant, Stuart Smith. The two were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection to an alleged telemarketing ploy and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the indictment, Shah and Smith allegedly carried out a telemarketing scheme that defrauded hundreds of people by selling so-called "business services" in connection with the victim’s online businesses. The mother-of-two faces a maximum sentence of 30 years for the fraud charge, and a maximum sentence of 20 years for the conspiracy to commit money laundering charge.
Shah — whose arrest played out in season 2 of the reality series — pleaded not guilty to all charges. In November, Smith changed his plea to guilty after originally entering a not guilty plea. Shah’s trial date is set for March 2022.
Erika Jayne
In November 2020, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member, 50, filed for divorce from her attorney husband Tom Girardi after 21 years of marriage.
Following their announcement, the lawyer, 82, was slapped with a string of lawsuits. In December 2020, the two were sued for allegedly embezzling $2 million from a settlement fund for the families of victims of a 2018 plane crash. The families claim that the former attorney (who was later put under a conservatorship and now lives an elderly care home) scored major legal victories for them but failed to pay them their settlement money — instead funneling the money into Jayne’s career and lavish lifestyle. Girardi then filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at his credior's request.
The former Chicago star has asked the court to dismiss the $25 million federal bankruptcy lawsuit claiming that she should not have to pay back any of the money. She claimed that since Girardi’s firm handled all of her LLC’s (EJ Global) finances and that her former spouse filed all of their personal tax returns, she should not be held liable. The case is still pending.
Teresa & Joe Giudice
In July of 2013, the former The Real Housewives of New Jersey couple was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications, and bankruptcy fraud in a 39-count indictment. The indictment alleged that despite reportedly earning $1 million between 2004 and 2008, Joe Giudice failed to file tax returns for those years.
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Both Joe, 49, and Teresa, 49, originally pleaded not guilty in federal court to financial fraud charges. After striking a deal with the prosecutor, the two changed their plea to a guilty plea to 41 counts of fraud.
The Skinny Italian author was sentenced to 15 months — but only served 13 — in a federal prison. Joe was sentenced to 41 months in prison and was later deported back to Italy and the two later divorced.
Luann de Lesseps
On Christmas Eve of 2017, following her split from Tom D'Agostino, The Real Housewives of New York City star, 56, was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida after she drunkenly kicked a police officer. De Lesseps was arrested on charges of battery on an officer, disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest with violence and crimes against a person.
The cabaret singer reportedly yelled "I'm going to kill you all!" at the police officers as she was being detained. De Lesseps entered rehab following the incident.
But that was not the only legal battle she has faced. In the aftermath of her arrest, her ex-husband Alexandre de Lesseps and their two kids, Noel and Victoria, sued her over their Sag Harbor, NY, home. Her former spouse claimed the reality star was supposed to create a trust for her $3.1 million Hamptons beach house that would given her son and daughter half of the house, per their divorce agreement. The suit has since been dropped.
Dorit & Paul Kemsley
According to tax documents, the RHOBH star, 45, and husband Paul Kemsley, 54, owe more than $1.3 million combined in unpaid taxes.
Documents claim that the music manager has two active solo tax liens in the state of California; one lien being for $293,222.73 from back in 2015 and the other for $289,423.67 from October 2018. The fashion designer also reportedly has her own individual tax lien in the state of California for $90,269.46 from March 2021. According to the documents, they reportedly also owe the IRS jointly $635,887.23, with their total owed amount together being $1,308,803.09.
In 2019, the Kemsleys settled a lawsuit against the Bellagio hotel after they claimed back in 2013 that PK failed to pay a $3.6 million casino marker that he took out.
