Being secure in my “man card” as a firearms instructor, I have no shame about using a trashy reality television show to illustrate some important life lessons.
Some of which are:
- If you feel like you have to constantly “one-up” your friends, they aren’t good friends to begin with.
- The need for “Keeping up appearances” has destroyed more people than you would think.
- If you need to constantly borrow money to stay afloat, then something is wrong.
- If you go into the television or movie spotlight, a prosecutor will ESPECIALLY be looking to take a shot at you if there is an opening.
- Raising your kids right and teaching them to be self-sufficient and productive adults is far more important that status-flaunting for a bunch of people who couldn’t care less about you.
- The time you spend with your kids is more important than the stuff you buy them.
Two stars of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” have been freed on $500,000 bond each amid fraud charges.
Teresa Giudice and her husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice, appeared in federal court Tuesday morning.
The Giudices are charged in a 39-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud.
They both had to surrender their passports and can’t travel outside of New Jersey and New York. The husband could be deported to Italy if convicted because he’s not a U.S. citizen.
Authorities say the couple submitted fraudulent mortgage and loan applications from 2001 to 2008, including fake tax returns and W-2s. Prosecutors allege Joe Giudice failed to file tax returns for the years 2004 through 2008.
Prosecutors allege the Giudices received about $4.6 million in mortgages, withdrawals from home equity lines of credit and construction loans.
In a statement, Teresa said she supports her husband and wants to resolve the charges as soon as possible.
“I am committed to my family and intend to maintain our lives in the best way possible, which includes continuing my career,” she said.
A Bravo spokesman had no comment.
“Everyone has an obligation to tell the truth when dealing with the courts, paying their taxes and applying for loans or mortgages,” said U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. “That’s reality.”
In their 2009 bankruptcy filing, the couple said they were $11 million in debt. They stated their monthly take-home pay was $16,583, but $10,000 was from “monthly assistance from family members” and Bravo income.
It also said they owed $2.2 million in mortgages, $13,000 to Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom and nearly $12,000 to a fertility clinic.
The most serious charges the couple face, bank fraud and loan application fraud, carry a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
