Katherine Biek'Real Housewives of New Jersey' stars Teresa and Joe Giudice have been sentenced to prison. Teresa Giudice received a 15-month sentence and two years probation late Thursday. Her husband got 41 months earlier in the day.
The Giudices pled guilty to multiple counts of fraud earlier this year.
Teresa's sentencing in particular was a surprise. She was thought to possibly get house-arrest, but the judge said, "I need to send a message. In the eyes of the law it doesn't matter who you are. There are consequences to pay."
The judge remarked both Teresa and Joe are good parents. Both cried in court and expressed regret.
People reports Joe will also have to spend an additional year in jail for another count as well as pay Wells Fargo Bank $414,000.
TMZ reported Teresa was planning to beg the judge to not send her to prison for the sake of the couple's four children.
Before both sentences were handed down, NJ.com reminded us of the numbers, pointing out the judge asked why "the couple declared only $25,000 worth of items in their home, even though their insurance policy is worth $1 million."
And ABC says the duo's attorneys asked the court for leniency, claiming their Bravo reality show "edit[ed] situations to create fake drama" and that the reason the Giudices continued starring on the show was because they didn't have any money. (Video via Bravo / "The Real Housewives of New Jersey")
Back in 2013, the couple was charged with 39 counts including wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud.
They originally pled not guilty, but that changed in March of this year. Joe pled guilty to five counts, Teresa to four. (Video via TMZ)
Joe is also facing the possibility of deportation after serving his prison time since he is not a U.S. citizen. He was born in Italy.
Joe will be able to surrender himself to prison. The judge also recommended he undergo alcohol treatment in prison.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
