Teresa and Joe Giudice Fraud Charges 'Feel Good,' Says Lawyer Who Sued Couple in 2007
The 39-count indictment against Teresa and Joe Giudice has sent shock waves through the entertainment industry, but a lawyer who was involved in past litigation against the couple says she is happy with the charges, but knows there still is a long road ahead.
"It does feel good," attorney Monica Chacon told RadarOnline.com. Chacon represented Joe's former business partner Joe Mastropole when he sued Joe Giudice for fraud in 2007.
"The work we put in to make sure the judge recognized they were committing fraud ultimately resulted in them withdrawing their petition [and tipping off the feds]," she explains. "It's been a long road."
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Court documents reveal Joe Giudice admitted to forging a mortgage in 2007 which could have led federal investigators to closely watch his business dealings over the past six years.
In 2007, Joe's former business partner, Joe Mastropole gave him a $586,000 loan, and Joe reportedly paid back $300,000. However, instead of paying the rest of the loan, he forged a June 2007 document with Mastropole's fake signature stating that the mortgage was discharged, or fully paid. Joe reportedly then took out another loan and kept $1 million for himself.
"Teresa and Joe's true day of reckoning is yet to come. The federal case is still ongoing. To actual vindication, I think it will be a long road," Chacon added.
The reality couple has been accused of exaggerating income when applying for loans and not disclosing full income amounts when applying for bankruptcy after they appeared on the "Real Housewives" reality show in 2009. Both husband, 43, and wife, 41, face a 39-count indictment according to reports.
In 2009 the couple filed for bankruptcy claiming over $10 million worth of debt. In an interview just after the filing, Teresa Giudice said on "The View" that she and her husband had run into trouble because tenants living in homes rented out by her husband had failed to pay rent in a downturned economy. The indictment includes conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud.
