Joe Giudice Could Be Deported After Pleading Guilty in Fraud Case

Reality star would first serve his time in federal prison before any deportation proceedings

By Alyssa Toomey, Baker Machado Mar 04, 2014 10:37 PMTags
Joe Giudice, Teresa GiudiceMike Coppola/Getty Images

And more bad news for Teresa and Joe Giudice.

After the Real Housewives of New Jersey stars pled guilty to multiple fraud charges in Newark Federal Court today, E! News has learned that Joe, a citizen of Italy and not the United States, could very well be deported due to his court confession. 

Joe currently faces a potential sentence of 37 to 46 months in jail while Teresa could get 21 to 27 months. The couple is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8.

"This is not a good position to be in," immigration attorney Michael Wildes tells E! News. "Joe's green card will not hold water." 

Fraud is listed as an element of moral turpitude, and once Joe steps foot in a federal prison, immigration could start the proceedings for deportation.

However, immigration would not throw Joe out immediately. He would first serve his time in federal prison and then deal with the deportation. 

According to Wildes, it is "quite likely" that Joe will face deportation proceedings, as any individual convicted of an "aggravated felony" is removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Joe's offenses meet the qualifications for an "aggravated felony," which include "any crime of fraud or deceit relating to tax evasion in which the loss to the government exceeds $10,000."

Kena Betancur/Getty Images

In July 2013, the Giudices were charged with conspiring to defraud lenders and illegally obtain mortgages and other loans, as well as allegedly hiding assets and income during a bankruptcy case. The 39-count indictment claimed they committed mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, made false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud. It also charged Joe, 43, with failure to file tax returns from 2004 to 2008, during which time the father of four allegedly earned nearly $1 million.

Four months later, the spouses were indicted on two additional counts of bank and loan application fraud, and in February 2014, they petitioned a judge to be tried separately.

In total, the Giudices were accused of obtaining more than $5 million in bank loans due to fraudulent and falsified paperwork.

"Today, I took responsibility for a series of mistakes I made several years ago," Teresa said in a statement on Tuesday. "I have said throughout that I respect the legal process and thus I intend to address the court directly at sentencing. I will describe the choices I made, continue to take responsibility for my decisions, and express my remorse to Judge Salas and the public. I am heartbroken that this is affecting my family—especially my four young daughters, who mean more to me than anything in the world. Beyond this, I do not intend to speak specifically about the case outside of court, at the recommendation of my attorney and out of deference to the government and our legal system."

Despite the Giudices' guilty plea, a number of friends have spoken out in support of the troubled couple.

Twitter

"Teresa is my friend and will continue to be my friend," the reality star's BFF Kim DePaola told E! News. "I have only seen her behave in a wonderful manner towards her family, her friends and especially her children. I have told her numerous times I'm here when she needs me. Joe has always been respectful of me, treated me like a lady and I respect Joe. I hope the best for them. I know they will  get through this. They have a very strong bond."

Fellow Real Housewives star Jacqueline Laurita took to Twitter to show her support for the couple, writing, "Praying for a dear old friend and her family today," along with a quote from none other than Demi Lovato.

Teresa's cousin and castmate Kathy Wakile tells E! News, "Our supportive thoughts are with them and hope the public respects their privacy, especially for the sake of the children."

And even RHONJ hubby Rich Wakile commented on the scandal. "We wish them well," he told E! News after the duo pled guilty to fraud.

Joe and Teresa are scheduled to be sentenced on July 8. The latest season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey is currently in production.

(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

—Additional reporting by Beth Sobol