"REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY" STAR TERESA GIUDICE AND HUSBAND FACE JAIL TIME AFTER GUILTY PLEA IN NEWARK

TERESA & GIUSEPPE GIUDICE

“Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice and her husband pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges on Tuesday, in crimes that could send them behind bars.

The reality TV personalities, who left a Newark courthouse without speaking to reporters, were ordered to return on July 8 when US District Court Judge Esther Salas will hand down their punishment.

They pleaded guilty to several counts including bankruptcy fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and failing to pay taxes.

“Teresa and Giuseppe Giudice used deception and fraud to cheat banks, bankruptcy court and the IRS,” said US Attorney Fishman.

“With their guilty pleas, they admitted the schemes with which they were charged. Having now confessed their wrongdoing, the Giudices face the real cost of their criminal conduct.”

Husband Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice faces 37 months to 46 months in prison and possible deportation back to Italy. American -born Teresa Giudice could get between 21 months to 27 months in the slammer.

Judge Salas could allow the pair to walk without time behind bars. But federal prosecutors said they’re confident Salas will side with their request to have the pair do time.

“Today I took a responsibility for a series of mistakes I made several years ago,” Teresa Giudice said in a prepared statement.

Federal authorities had said the pair illegally scored mortgages and other loans, by using fake documents to overstate their income.

For example, in 2001, their fraudulent $121,500 loan application included a W-2 and phony paycheck stubs.

Then in 2005, they secured a $361,250 mortgage by claiming Teresa was making $15,000 a month as a real estate agent, even though she was really unemployed, officials said.

The pair declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009 and in ensuing documents, hid various assets and income — including “Teresa Giudice’s true income from the television show `The Real Housewives of New Jersey,’ ” according to federal prosecutors.

Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice – affectionately called “Juicy Joe” by his wife on the hit Bravo show – also failed to file tax returns between 2004 and 2008 despite making $996,459 in those years, prosecutors said.

The Towaco couple has four kids, Gia, 13, Gabriella, 9, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 4.
“I am heartbroken that this is affecting my family,” according to Teresa Giudice’s statement.

“Especially my four young daughters, who mean more to me than anything in the world.”

A Bravo representative said on Tuesday that Season 6 of “RHONJ” is being shot now. But the network spokesman declined to specifically comment on Giudice.