As expected, Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe Giudice entered not guilty pleas in court this morning in response to charges of tax evasion.
Prior to today’s court appearance, we reported that it was expected that they would plead not guilty. They were indicted on 39 criminal counts last month for allegedly defrauding the IRS from 2001 to 2008. Prosecutors say that they didn’t put down their income from the hit Bravo show when they filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009. They also claim that Joe didn’t file income taxes for four years.
They were later book and released on $500,000 bond each.
According to the New York Daily News, the two were in Newark Federal Court together today. While they did not say anything to the press, Joe’s lawyer, Miles Feinstein, said that they both “vehemently deny their guilt. There's an assumption of innocence and they vehemently assert their innocence.”
The couple could face up to 50 years in prison and since Joe’s not a U.S. citizen, he could be deported. “Joe didn't know he wasn't a citizen,” Feinstein told the media. “The rest of his family is. Had he know and applied for citizenship he certainly would have gotten it.”
The Daily News had previously reported that the future of the Bravo show is unknown as the case unfolds. A source told the paper that the couple had pitched a spinoff, but the network’s not interested in that. “Bravo only spins off happy situations — marriages, baby news. Not prison,” the source said.
According to NBC News, the couple is due back in court on Oct. 3 and the trial could start on Oct. 8.
image: NBCUniversal