Todd Chrisley, who is famous for reality TV, has recently talked about his time in prison on ABC.
He shared the challenges he faced, the lessons he learned, and how he was eventually released thanks to a pardon. Their stories give us a look at the emotional weight of being locked up, which kept them apart for more than a year before they were reunited.
As found by TMZ, when Todd first arrived in federal prison, he was extremely upset. He said that on his very first night after the lights were turned off, he cried until he finally fell asleep. In that hard moment, he even wondered why God would allow this to happen to him. His wife, Julie, also shared her deep sadness, talking about how much she missed important family events like birthdays, holidays, and graduations—moments they can never get back.
As a former Correctional Officer, I can say crying on your first night in prison is incredibly common. It’s not hard to see why, either, because you’ve lost everything for a determined period of time. When you’re a 19-year-old who knows you will be in there for life, it’s hard not to cry.
Chris Todd cried his first night in prison
Todd said he now appreciates things he used to take for granted. He talked about how valuable freedom is, the ability to go to church, eat at restaurants, or even just stay in his own bed all day if he wanted to. Getting these simple parts of life back felt like a huge blessing to him. He also said that going to prison changed him deeply, adding that anyone who went through that and didn’t change wouldn’t really be human.
Even though they were pardoned, Todd is still focused on clearing their names. He explained that even with the pardon, he still has a conviction for something he says he didn’t do. He pointed out that anyone could end up in trouble with the justice system and said he understands how hard it is for families dealing with that. He also made it clear that he doesn’t feel sorry for the money he earned.
BREAKING: Todd & Julie Chrisley Receive Presidential Pardon from Donald … https://t.co/nm2bVlZiwb #ToddChrisley #JulieChrisley #PresidentialPardon #DonaldTrump #ChrisleyKnowsBest #BreakingNews #TrumpPardon pic.twitter.com/QVuSPlE3ZD
— News Sketch Story (@dolantime_com) June 23, 2025
The couple’s legal problems started in 2019 when they were charged with bank fraud and tax evasion. They were found guilty in 2022 and began serving their sentences in separate prisons in January 2023. At one point, they were looking at a total of nineteen years behind bars. Through it all, Todd and Julie always said they were innocent.
Things changed in September 2023 when their sentences were shortened. Later, a judge threw out Julie’s conviction, saying there wasn’t enough evidence. Then, in May, Trump pardoned the reality TV stars. At least they did some time for their crimes.
