Joe Giudice Welcomes Wife Teresa Giudice Home After Prison Sentence: Details From the Scene

Reality star from Real Housewives of New Jersey arrives at New Jersey house after nearly a year in jail

By Samantha Schnurr Dec 23, 2015 3:00 PMTags
Joe Giudice, Teresa Giudice, Sentencing Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Teresa Giudice has officially swapped her prison cell for her warm New Jersey home. 

The Real Housewives of New Jersey reality star officially arrived safely at her Towaco house after departing the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn. upon discharge at 5:01 a.m. Wednesday. 

Driven by her attorney James Leonard Jr., the mother of four arrived at her family's driveway at 7:30 a.m. in a black SUV surrounded by four other matching vehicles. It was the first time she had set foot on the property since serving nearly a year in federal prison for fraud charges. 

Inside the vehicle, the 43-year-old was photographed smiling for the cameras from the backseat of the car, sporting straight hair and a full face of makeup. 

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She was greeted by heartwarming handwritten signs made by her children hanging on the mansion's front door, one of which read, "We Missed You."  

Smoke was spotted spouting from the chimney—a sign that the family had a lit up the fireplace in preparation for their mom's warm return. 

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Outside the house, a black 2016 Lexus LX570 with a bright red bow was parked sitting in the driveway.

When reporters inquired about the alleged gift, which retails for $95,000, Leonard said he didn't know who bought it. "Maybe Santa Claus," he joked. 

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As for her husband of 16 years, Joe Giudice stood guard outside the home's garage in the early morning darkness to greet his wife after nearly a year apart. 

Her four daughters, Gia, 14, Gabriella, 11, Milania, 10, and Audriana, 6, remained inside the home despite a yellow school bus pulling up to the property to pick them up. Teresa's attorney later shared he had driven the two oldest daughters to school after their brief reunion. 

"She's very happy to be here," her attorney added during a press conference outside the home. "She's very much looking forward to a nice quiet low key holiday with her family."