Real Housewife Teresa Giudice gets 15 months for fraud

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 2 (UPI) —

Real housewife of New Jersey Teresa Giudice will be serving real time.

The reality star and her husband, Joe Giudice, were sentenced Thursday to consecutive federal prison terms for committing bankruptcy fraud, pleading guilty to multiple charges of bankruptcy fraud, mail and wire fraud conspiracy in March.

Judge Esther Salas sentenced Teresa Giudice to 15 months in federal prison. Joe Giudice will serve 41 months and was ordered to pay restitution of $414,588.

They were accused of hiding businesses they owned and income from the Real Housewives show, which she joined in 2009.

The reality star wept as she appeared in court Thursday, shedding the tough-girl persona she is known for on television.

"I’m not gonna deny it, I’m so scared, I’m really scared" of going to prison she said. "I’m a good woman of faith and heritage. This is not how I was raised. I will make this right, your honor."

She will serve her time first, while her husband stays free to care for their four daughters. Then, he will take her place behind bars.

"I stand here humiliated before the court and society and my family and society," he said, promising "to be a better person."

While Salas said Joe Giudice did "deserve some credit" for working to help people rebuild after Hurricane Sandy, he was still going to have to pay a debt to society.

"They had an obligation to be transparent and candid and open with the court, and I don’t think I got that," she said, chiding the couple for "glaring omissions" in their financial disclosure forms.

A lawyer for the Giudices said the discrepancies were because "Mr. Giudice has no idea what items are worth what," while a prosecutor instead blamed an intent to deceive.

"It’s the same pattern of obstruction and dishonesty and manipulation that they showed in the bankruptcy case," prosecutor Jonathan Romankow said.

In addition to the three counts of bankruptcy fraud, and one count each of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, Joe Giudice also pleaded guilty to failing to file a tax return in 2004.