Real Housewives Couple Going to Prison

The married stars of the Real Housewives of New Jersey are trading the drama of reality TV for prison.Teresa Giudice was sentenced today in federal court in Newark to 15 months in prison on conspiracy and bankruptcy charges. Earlier today, husband Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice was sentenced to 41 months. Each was ordered to pay $414,000 in restitution. The judge said Teresa will serve her sentence first so Joe can stay home with the couple's four children. Teresa cried as she apologized in court before her sentencing. Her husband also apologized and said he had disgraced many people.

The couple pleaded guilty in March, admitting they hid assets from bankruptcy creditors and submitted phony loan applications to get some $5 million in mortgages and construction loans. Joe Giudice also pleaded guilty to failing to file a 2004 tax return. US District Court Judge Esther Salas slammed them for not disclosing all their assets in a presentencing report, specifically by not including all their recreational vehicles. And she didn't exactly go light on them: Under federal sentencing guidelines, Joe Giudice faced a potential sentence of 37 to 46 months, and his wife could have gotten 21 to 27 months. Joe Giudice, an Italian citizen, could be deported after his prison term is completed. (More Teresa Giudice stories.)