Locked In with Ian Bick - Teresa Giudice: How I Survived Prison

Episode Date: October 12, 2025

Teresa Giudice opens up about the chapter of her life that few have ever heard — her time in federal prison. Known around the world from The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa went from fame and fortune to serving time behind bars after her high-profile conviction. In this powerful and emotional interview, she reveals what really happened inside, how she survived, and how the experience changed her forever. #TeresaGiudice #RealHousewives #RHONJ #PrisonStories #RealityTV #RedemptionStory #Prison #TrueCrimeInterviews Thank you to BLUECHEW for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://bluechew.com/ and use promo code LOCKEDIN at checkout to get your first month of BlueChew & pay five bucks for shipping. Connect with Teresa Giudice: https://www.instagram.com/teresagiudice/?hl=en Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Teresa Giudice Opens Up About Her Legal Troubles 00:41 – Life After Prison: Starting the Conversation 01:54 – Growing Up in Paterson, New Jersey 04:40 – Family, Values & Early Life Memories 07:21 – Strict Parenting, Teenage Years & Early Lessons 10:49 – High School Drama, Friendships & Finding Herself 14:42 – College, Career & Living at Home 18:13 – Marriage, Motherhood & Reflections on Upbringing 22:32 – The Real Housewives Journey: Becoming a Reality TV Star 27:25 – Family, Children & Adjusting to Fame 31:34 – The Beginning of Legal Troubles: Investigation & Arrest 38:38 – Court Case, Sentencing & Public Reaction 44:47 – Self-Surrender & First Days in Federal Prison 51:01 – Life Behind Bars: Routine, Food & Inmate Dynamics 53:42 – Family Visits, Emotional Toll & Life Changes 59:55 – Release, Rebuilding & Career After Prison 01:06:16 – Divorce, Loss & Starting Over Stronger 01:10:43 – Public Perception, Redemption & Life Lessons 01:13:34 – Accountability, Misconceptions & Growth 01:17:44 – Final Reflections & Teresa’s Message to Viewers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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They're like, is your husband? I'm like, no. How long were you going through the motions for before the public found out? When she sentenced me, I said, looked at my lawyer and I'm like, did she just, am I going to jail? Tell us about the day you self-surrendered. I don't like saying that I went to prison because I don't want it to define who I am. Were you afraid to go into prison? Teresa Judice went from red carpets and reality TV to a federal prison cell.

Most people know her from the real housewives of New Jersey, but few know what she truly endured behind bars. This is the untold story of how Teresa survived prison, rebuilt her life and came out stronger than ever. Teresa Judeyce, welcome to Lockton. Thanks so much for coming on the show today. Thank you for having me. Yeah, when I first started the podcast, you were on the top of the list, like three years ago almost, of people I wanted to interview.

So it's so cool to make this happen. Sorry we had to bring you back to Danbury. That's okay. That's okay. I know. When I saw the address, I'm like, Dan Barry, I'm like, That's, yeah, that's where I was. Have you been back to Danbury since? No, I have not. Wow.

Yeah, I think maybe I drove by going somewhere and maybe in Connecticut. I'm trying to think if maybe, oh, I had an appearance. And isn't there, is there a casino in Connecticut? Yeah, Mohegan Sun and Foxwood. Oh, so you did drive it. Yes, so I have seen the sign. Yeah, I used to live in downtown Danbury and every time I would drive by the sign Federal Correctional Institute. So it's so weird seeing that.

Yeah, no, I never drove by that sign, but I just drove by saying Danbury. Yeah. You know, going to the casino. Yeah. Yeah, because, I mean, now it's been over 10 years. Like, I think I want to wait 10 years ago, right? I think 2015, right? So, and we're in 2025.

Yeah, almost 2026. That's crazy. Yeah, so 10 years ago, yeah. Where did you grow up, Teresa? I grew up in Patterson, Patterson, New Jersey. What was that like? What was your upbringing like? It was, you know, it was nice.

It was a nice area. I would say, I don't want to say all Italians. It was, like, mixed, but, like, really, you know, nice area. I lived in a one-family house. We lived in the, you know, did you ever hear the Falls, Patterson? No. Okay, so the Falls in Patterson. I grew up there from, I think, from when I was born until, like, third grade.

I lived by the Falls. There's actually Patterson Falls. I lived right across the street from the Patterson Falls. So I grew up there. Then after that, my parents, we were renting. Yeah, my parents were renting. There was a three-family house, and we lived on the second floor. And I remember the house.

Like, I remember it. Like, yeah. And I remember there was a Hispanic family on top of us that I just reconnected with them not too long ago. Yeah, and I loved them. and I, you know, I found out that the daughter, they lived in my town in Montville, where I live now, and I'm like, why did you ever reach out to me? Because I loved her mom. And then her mom, I found dad died from breast cancer.

And then the father, I think, got remarried. And it was three girls. And I just reconnected with them. It's so crazy. That's so nice. Yeah, they moved to Florida. Like now they all moved to Florida. but yeah so but she you know she has been back to she has family that lives in but in the next town from where I live right now so it was nice connecting with her so now you know now we're in touch all the time what do your parents do for work

then we moved from then we moved to where it's near totoa everyone knows like totoa it's it's a you know a little bit better than the falls Patterson it's like near totoa but my address still was Patterson. It was like, I lived a block away from Toilwa. Okay. I said, my dad was a shoemaker. My dad used to do construction. And then he learned the trade to become a shoemaker. And I just saw that there's a shoemaker in this building. Right next door. Yes. And it's so crazy. My dad was the best shoemaker ever. He worked in this town in Ramsey, New Jersey, very high-end, beautiful town. And like, yeah, he did really well there. He was in a shopping center. What about your mother?

My mom was a stay-at-home mom. She just took care of my brother and I. And home-cooked meals every day. And she was an amazing mom. What were some values they taught you at a young age? The values. Yeah, I mean, I had a very old school. My parents were born in Italy.

I'm first generation. And like I used to, on Saturdays, I would have to clean the house before, you know, I was just saying I always, like old school ways, like I would clean, you know, we had two floors. Like upstairs was the furniture that we didn't touch. Like, and then we lived in the basement. Like the Italians do, do you ever see that? Like the Italians live in the basement.

Yeah, my mom saw the family's Italian. Okay, so we had the, you know, the kitchen in the basement. So my mom would do all the cooking downstairs. And then upstairs is like we're all there, you know, we didn't touch upstairs. Upstairs were the bedrooms, but, you know, the kitchen that you didn't touch, family rooms. room. But we basically lived downstairs. Then we had another family room and kitchen downstairs. And that's basically where we hung out. Do you think you guys struggled growing up or was it middle class? Middle class. Yeah, we didn't struggle. I mean, very like my, you know, I listened to my parents,

very old. Like I was not, I was not allowed to have sleepovers. I didn't really hang out with my friends that much. Like I was really home a lot. And I, watched my mom like that's how I learned how to cook like just watching my mom and um yeah and on on Saturdays I would clean and then yeah I don't really remember hanging out with friends that much I was like more home a lot and just always you know I was there with my mom and like I get she would make me go to my friend's house here or there but like I was not a lot to have sleepovers like yeah that was a no no if anybody if they wanted to sleep over they had a sleep over of my house. And then when I started working at 14 because I kind of wanted to get out of the

house. I worked at my first job was at Shoo Town in Wayne. And my dad got me that job because anytime they had any repairs with the shoes, they would bring it to my dad. So then my dad talked to them and said, you do you have a job for my daughter? And then they said, yes. I used to go to work with him on Saturdays. And there was a Shoe Town there, and then he used to take me there. And I like that because it just got me out of the house. And then what else? Yeah, I mean, that was it. And then when I turned 17, I was still working at Chutown.

And then that's when I had a little bit more freedom because I had my own car. My parents got me a brand new car. My brother and I, we both got brand new cars. And at 17, I got a, want to know my first car? Yeah. I got a 240 SX. What kind of car is that? It's a Nissan.

Okay. 240 SX Nissan. It was all white with the white spoiler kit on the bottom. And my brother got a 300 ZX. He got a more expensive card than me because I had a sweet 16, like a huge sweet 16 party at a restaurant hall. It was like a small little wedding. Like that's what Italians do. And my brother didn't have a sweet 16 because he's a boy, you know, he's a guy.

Like you give sweet 16 to girls, not really guys. If we had your best friend from high school here today, how would they describe you back then? Oh, my best friend Oh, from high school. Well, this is what happened. I really, I had a best friend and then, I'm not going to say her name, but then I got the chicken pox freshman year.

Yes, I got the chicken fox freshman year. And I, you know, she didn't even check up on me. And I guess I had this fire Italian temper like, you know, like, I thought that was so rude. Like I had the chicken box. I was out of school for a week. And I don't know. And then I just never spoke to her after that because I was like, you didn't even

check up on me and make sure I was okay. I don't know. I just thought like a real friend would check up on you. So then I stopped being friends with her. And, you know, freshman year after I got the chicken box. But then after that, I ended up having a whole bunch of friends. Like I remember I hung out with like seven or eight girls that, you know, we, once I turned 17, and that's when we started going out, like, on the weekends, going out to

dinner. Like, I was, like, the planner. I would make, like, dinner plans and we would all go out to dinner. And then we used to start going to clubs, like limelight. That was one of the clubs used to go to. I think there was, um, maybe I could, I always remember the limelight. I know there was a few others that would probably have to ask my friends, but I remember the limelight. And that club, like, they would have to pick you to. get in. So one of my friends used to dress like very out there and like we would always get picked like they would pick you to get into the club. That's how we would get into the club. What do you have considered yourself popular? Oh, yes. Yes. I did date one of the popular guys

in school. Yes, I, you know, I did. But unfortunately like I dated Hispanic guys in high school and the Hispanic girls didn't like me because I was white and the guys, you know, the Spanish guys liked me. So, you know, I did get into fights because of that. Yeah. So that's, yeah, that did happen in high school. But that's what we become, like, tough because girls, yeah, unfortunately, I mean, was it my fault that they liked me. and then to, I guess, you know, they tried to jump me one time.

Oh, we got to hear this story. Yeah, they tried to jump me. And my friend came and saved me, thank God. Yeah, there was a whole bunch of them to get ready to jump me at school, like in the outside. And she came and, yeah, she pulled out a knife. And then she pulled out, and they all scattered. And I was like, thank you. So I'll never forget her, like, for having my back with that.

Do you think your high school experience prepared you for your career later on in life? Yeah, I mean, I guess, I mean, I guess, yeah, to be strong. And I guess my upbringing with my parents. Like, you know, like, there was, like, I was not allowed to cry. Like, if my father yelled at me, like, there was no tears coming down. Like, he's very, he never wanted to, he didn't like, you know, seeing me and my brother cry. And, yeah, I guess. You know, just growing up with my parents.

Like I saw my dad. He always went to work. Never. He wasn't a lazy guy. My mom, too. Like, taking care of my brother and I, we always came first. Like, it was, you know, we grew up, like, in a very loving household. What do you think was your favorite memory from childhood?

A favorite memory? Just, like, my mom, like, her home-cooked meals. And, like, like, they always put my brother. and I first. Like, it was always about us. Like, you know, just always protecting us. And, like, we were all very close to four of us. Like, if, like, if it started raining out, like, I would call my brother and be like, oh, drive safe and vice versa. Like, we always looked out for each other like that. We were a very loving family. What do you think was your worst, worst memory from your teenage years or childhood? My worst memory? Well, you know what? I didn't like that,

My cousin Kathy and Rosie, we didn't talk to them for six years. So I wish I grew up with cousins. And that's the one thing I didn't like. Because I was like, that was my only family that we had in America. Because our other family was in Italy and Belgium. So I was like I wish that we would have, I wish I would have grew up with my cousins. What were you thinking of career-wise when you were in high school? Oh, I went to school.

I went to a technical high school, Bessay County Tech, and I took up business. So, and then when I, you know, when I was in high school, I decided, like, I wanted to do fashion. Like, I loved fashion. You know, I love dressing up. And so that's when I went to school. I went to Berkeley College, which was only 10 minutes away from my house.

I wasn't allowed to go away to college. Now my parents was like, I couldn't even ask that question. Like, can I go away? Yeah, that was absolutely a no-no. I wasn't even allowed to have a sleepover. Imagine going away to college. Yeah, no. So I went to college 10 minutes away from my house, and that was it.

I got my bachelor's, no, wait, sorry, my associates degree. I only went to school for 18 months. Got my associate's degree, and then I got it. And then I started working. And that was it. I mean, my dad didn't even, like, my parents weren't even pushing college. They're like, you want to go to college? And I'm like, yeah.

And it's going to, I remember. remember how much it cost my parents. It was 18,000, 9,000 each year. And, like, my parents, like, oh, my God, I got to pay them, you know, because they, like, I said I wanted to go to college. And my brother, too, like, my brother went to college for a year,

and then he dropped out because he got hurt in football. He got a scholarship. Yeah, so I wanted to just go myself. And that was it. And then I got my first job. I was, um, I worked in a buying office for sizes unlimited. 16 plus and the avenue. So I was an associate assistant buyer there in Rochelle Park,

New Jersey. And then after that, I ended up going to the buying office in Herald Square in Macy's. And then I also worked a little bit in between that. I worked at Nordstrom's and Nordstrom's shoe department. Then after that. So sometimes, you know, things happen. Yeah, and I was like, I'm trying to think that I get laid off. I don't know if I got laid off. And that, oh, no, maybe I left. I can't, yeah, can't remember if I got laid off or I left. Anyway, then I went, then I got a job, like the right job.

Sometimes in life you don't know, like, why is this happening or, you know, you just, and then everything always falls into place, you know. And I was, like, looking for, like, the right job. And then I landed, you know, Macy's. Harold Square. And that was like a great job. And I was an assistant buyer. Then I got promoted to an associate buyer. And then after that, I went on the other side. And then I was a sales rep for Calvin Klein and nine West handbags. Guys, enter the room loaded sculpture first. Blue Chew isn't just a tablet. It's a cheat code for your crotch. Stronger, harder, longer lasting, like someone

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And were you still living at home during this whole time? Yes. Yeah, I was not a lot to move out. I was listening on the Nick Vial podcast that you had a curfew up until you got married. Yes. I had a curfew.

And I was not a lot to move out until I moved into my, you know, whoever I was marrying's house, you know. Well, I mean, Joe and I, we were going to build the house. We bought a piece of property. and then it was not going to be, you know, that was going to take time to build the house. So we bought a piece of property and then I ended up moving into his house. He owned a two-family house in Patterson, which was right next. It was like, I would say five minutes from my house where I grew up with my parents.

So I moved into his house and then I would say a year, year and a half later, we moved into our house. that house that was on Real House was in New Jersey. Do you feel like your upbringing was too strict? I mean a little bit. That's why I am very different with my kids because I want them to experience life. Because I kind of wanted to just get married

and get out of the house. And I dated someone for six years and he ended up cheating on me. And then so and then with Joe, I knew him my whole life and I started seeing him out. And so then we started talking.

And I know Joe always liked me. He did. And I always liked him too. I always had a thing for him. And so, and then I just, it was just like he was, I guess, safe for me. Because, you know, I was hurt by my first boyfriend. I was like, I think he would just be, you know, he was safe. Like, I don't know if I was like, I mean, I don't want to say this.

Like, I don't know if I was so, like, in love with him. You know, like, I didn't know what that really was. Just, I mean, you know, you have one. boyfriend and I had one boyfriend then it was him, you know? So I wish I would have dated more. I think that would have been better. But, um, but, you know, listen, I had, I got my four beautiful daughters out of it. Do you give them advice to go kind of a different path, maybe college or dating or anything like that? Oh, yeah. I tell them like, I support everything they do. Matter of fact, G is moving out next month. So I'm so proud of her. And I'm like, yeah, I'm like, I'm living vicariously

through you. I'm like, that's what I would want to do. That's what I wanted to do when I was your age, like live on my own for a little bit before getting married and living with my husband. Because I went with living with my parents to living with my husband. And it's like, I wanted to live on my own and experience life a little bit, like on my own a little bit. I think that's like great to do. And it's so cool that you guys got to do a TV show together too. Who? You and Gia. Oh, yes. That was special forces. Yeah. That was awesome. great, you know, like something that we'll never forget. And, like, her sisters were jealous that we did that, you know.

They're like, yeah, that's not fun. You know, that's not cool, ma. They're like, we're probably never going to do something like that with you. And I'm like, you never know. I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunities. Yeah, like, you never know what the future holds. Do you think that there's some misconception about you that you were a hard worker before becoming a reality TV star? I mean, I feel like there's a lot of that with reality TV stars in general that they feel.

like that people feel like it was just handed to them, but they don't know the backstory. Yeah, right. What do you think from watch? I mean, did you ever watch my show? Funny enough, they actually had it on in prison. Like, guys in prison would watch reality TV. So they would be like the Mori show. They had real housewives. They had cops. They anything reality TV, they consumed. There was a couple of the, I think it was some of the husbands that went to prison. One of them, I think, might have been at Fort Dix, not Joe, someone else. And then also, when Joe was there too, people had that show on too. Oh, it was Fager.

Yeah, Fager's ex-husband. I met him too when I was there. So they would watch that all the time. And then I remember getting Us Weekly or U.S. Weekly, whatever that magazine is. And there was that one picture of, like, Joe on it where they had like a picture of him. They snapped and stuff. But yeah, they would have that on the TVs all the time. So that was the only time I watched it. So what did you think of me? I didn't really for it. I'm not like a judgmental person. Yeah, I didn't, like, meeting you for the first time, I didn't go in with, like, a perceived notion of you. No, because I love, I would love to hear, like, what people think, like, their perception. I think I would compare it to, like, so, for instance, the Jersey shortcast, I think growing up, we thought that that was just handed to them. Right. And then there's all these interviews about how they actually had to work and they were underpaid during those first seasons.

Oh, yeah. We were under, we got paid very little. And at the beginning, I put money into Housewives. Yeah, because, like, you know, you have all these parties and the clothing and hair and makeup. Like, they don't pay for that. So it's, yeah, the first season, I would say the first couple seasons, like, you know, we were putting money into it, you know, because you don't make money until, like, later on. How did Housewives come about? Were you just, like, working your career and then they stumbled upon you?

Yeah, Housewives came about, like, these producers went to the salon called Chateau. in Franklin Lakes. They walked into the salon and they asked the owner of the sander, like, can you recommend like, you know, beautiful, beautiful women with like the whole lifestyle, like the beautiful house,

you know, everything going on like that. So they recommended Dina, Manzo at the time, and Jacqueline orita. So they recommended the two of them. And then that's when Dina recommended me. They're like, you have to talk to my girl and she has these three little girls. She dresses them like impeccable and whatever.

And then that's when I talked to them. And then Jacqueline recommended another friend of hers that the husband said, well, if you want me to go to prison, then do the show. So she said no. Then she ended up recommending her sister-in-law, Caroline Manzo. And then Danielle was going to that salon. So then they said, oh, me, Danielle will be good. And, you know, so, and then that's how Danielle got on.

And this was before social media is really big when it started. Yes, this was way before social media. I didn't get onto Instagram. I think till I came out, I think a prison. Really? I think. Oh, because Instagram started, I think, what, 2011 or 10? Wait, yeah, because I didn't start Instagram to, like, a while.

I think, wait, I can't remember if I started when I got out. I have to look at my last post. But I didn't start like when everybody else started. I think I was away. Yeah, I mean, 2011, that's when it started. I think so. I don't think I jumped on the bandwagon right away. Because I wasn't, I never, I know I'm on Facebook, you know,

but I had some, you know, I have my assistant that posts on Facebook, but I never really actually was on Facebook. Like I used it for promotion stuff and stuff like that. But I really never was really active on Facebook. Did you have a MySpace? No, I never did my space either. Oh, wow. So, yeah, so I'm not a techie person.

And I started Instagram way later on than everybody else did. Was it a different kind of fame back then without social media? Like when the show first started, do you think it was, like, more genuine? Yeah, I mean, like, now it's just with the whole social media thing, which is great because you could promote a lot of things and all that stuff. But there's so many nasty people out there. And I guess some people get affected by that. I don't. Like, I just, I know how to shut that out and ignore the noise.

But unfortunately, you have all those, you know, haters that, you know, have things to say. So that's, like, the part that I don't like. But, I mean, it is a good thing, social media, meaning, like, to promote businesses and stuff like that. When you first joined Housewives, did you ever imagine it would lead to where you are now? Not at all. And I took the longest to sign the contract. Everyone else signed the contract right away. It took me almost a year to sign the contract. And they waited on you that whole time. They waited on me. Yeah, they wouldn't, I guess they knew they had a star on their hands. Yeah, I guess they did. And like they wouldn't, because they could have went on without me. And they waited for me. Like the producers chased me for, I would say, almost a year, close to a year. What do you think really made it get steam? I guess, you know, the authenticity,

how it started with family, and like it was really, like it started with three, like two sisters and a sister-in-law, and everybody could relate to it, and everybody, you know, like that. No, doesn't always, from my recollection, everyone always says, like, the New Jersey one is the main one.

That was, like, the home starter one? No, the original one was Orange County. That was original. Then it was New York, then Atlanta, then New Jersey. I only watched New Jersey. Right. And I'd never watched it before. Because I never watched it before I wanted to.

Because I was busy. I was a mom. I was like, I'm a mom. I'm a mom. I'm a mama sit down. So I was really a mom like raising three girls. And at the time, then I had my fourth season two. So I was really, and I was like my mom.

Like, I was, like, I lived from, I lived for my kids. Like, they came first. It was the kids, then Joe, you know, my husband at the time. And then everything else. So, yeah. So I drove them to their, you know, to all their activities. I put them in everything. Like, I loved gymnastics and dance.

So that's what my girl started with, gymnastics and dance. And then after that, Malania. Gia continued gymnastics and dance, and then Gabriella and Melania, they did it for, I think, a year or two. And then they're like, now we want to do soccer. And I was like, soccer. I'm like, you know, because I was like such a girly mom. And then I ended up becoming a soccer mom. Like, I love soccer.

Like, they were so good at it. Like, Gabrielle was on a club team. They both loved it. Joe was their coach. And, yeah, so it was really cute. When did your kids realize that you were on TV? I guess they realized when they started going to school maybe and people started staying things.

I think when all the legal stuff happened. Because, you know, when they were younger, like, they really didn't know. And then I think when all the legal stuff happened, that's when I never even asked them that question. That's a really good question to ask them. Like, I'm going to ask them, like, I'm going to ask them, like when they realized, probably that, you know,

because then they were probably getting scrutinized and stuff. I'm sure people were saying things. When did you first realize you were under investigation? When, oh, I didn't know I wasn't. Like, they came knocking on our door and the government. Like, we're asked for my husband. They're like, is your husband? Oh, I'm like, no.

And I called jail. I'm like, so they just kind of looking for you. And then that was it. And then that's like when it all started. Who came the IRS or the FBI? eye? I think, yeah, they just came knocking. We never got arrested. None of that. I never, I've never had handcuffs on my wrist. Lucky. Yes, I've never gotten shackled, nothing. Because, see, God is good. Because God knows I didn't do anything. So God is good. Like, Joe obviously

got shackled. And I remember he used to tell me he was getting shackled. And I was just like, that's your problem. No, we can't. They did the whole perp lineup for me. We grew up down the road from here and 6 a.m., FBI, IRS, everyone lined up. We never had any of that. I have to say, like, that's saying God is good because, like I said, I mean, I'd be honestly, look, I did my time. I had no choice. I had to do what I had to do.

But, yeah, I mean, this is all I did. I went to a closing. I went to a closing, which, and I mean, listen, I was naive at the time, and I should, you I should have asked more questions, but I didn't. I mean, I don't know. Back then, even a lot of women say, like, their husbands tell them to sign something. They sign it. I mean, my husband at the time, he was like, I'm going to use your credit.

And I'm like, all right. You know, he's like, he was flipping homes at the time. And my credit was over 800. I had the best credit ever. Yeah. And he's like, I'm going to use your, you know, I guess when you have too much credit out there, you can't keep doing it. So he's like, I'm just going to.

we're going to refinance this house. And I said, all right. So that's it. I went to a closing with, you know, lawyer's office with the mortgage guy, a lawyer. That's it. Signed papers, done. That was the only thing I've ever, that's it.

And then they're like, and then I got charged for mortgage fraud. I'm like, mortgage fraud. I'm like, for what? Because I signed those papers. Mortgage fraud. And then tax, all the other stuff, because I guess the tax, whatever taxes he filed, that, you know, I don't, back to, see, this is all questions you have to ask him because he was dealing with the banks, with the mortgages or I guess with the tax paper saying that he made more money than, you know, like if you say you make a million dollars, but you only make 500, that's fraud. Inflating your income.

Exactly. And I think, I think back then the banks were even doing that. So they would get the commission. So, but then, you know, you heard when all that came out that the banks were getting, right. So, like, so everyone was doing this. Like, it was like, but unfortunately, we got in trouble because we're, you know, they wanted to make an example out of us. Yeah, you're on TV. Basically, that's what it came down to. Listen, Joe did not file taxes, which, you know, that was, that's, I guess that's why they came knocking on the door. I mean, he filed his business, but not his personal.

So stupid. And I never knew that. And I used to ask, I mean, I even said to him, is everything good with you before I go on TV? And he said, yeah, he's a good. Feels like every product claims real protein these days. But real doesn't start on a label. It starts at the source.

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Yeah, everything's fine. I'm like, all right. Well, I mean, I think it's totally believable, too, because I see it growing up, my dad did everything, all the taxes. Like, if my dad passed away tomorrow, my mom wouldn't know what to do with all that work. Oh, yeah. I'm saying, I guess, well, and I didn't work, so I didn't need to file taxes, but we were married. And, you know, so I stayed home.

I never worked until housewives. And then when housewives came, then I started filing my taxes on my own, you know, I got an accountant. Once they came that day, that wasn't the actual, like, arrest. They didn't give you a paper. No, there was no arrest. Like I said, never an arrest. But even, like, the charge, they didn't give you papers charging you that day. No.

I think Joe went to go see them. And then after that, he's like, we have to get a, he got a lawyer. And then after that, then he's like, then he told me, I had to get a lawyer. I was like, what? I was like, I swear I was shocked. I was like, and then I thought it was all, I'm like, then I really thought like we were just going through the motions. And I'm like, I just, I guess I have to just go through the motions because I'm like, they're going to see that. I did nothing, you know, they're going to know. But unfortunately, he had a partner.

And I guess, yeah, his partner is the one that told them I signed papers. And nothing happened to his partner. Isn't that so screwed out? That's how it normally works in these cases. Yes, nothing. and his partner never filed a tax in his life. He put everything in his mom and niece's name. Yeah?

And he got away with that. You were the bigger fish. Because I was on TV. Exactly. Is that crazy? I mean, they did that recently with the Crisleys, and you see a lot of reality TV stars like that. Yeah.

And that's why I used to not want to talk about it. But now I guess it's just part of my journey. and that's why I have no problem talking about it. And I'm not ashamed of it. You know, if anyone wants to judge me, shame on them. Because you should never judge anyone unless you really walk in their shoes. So that's why I now have no problem talking about it. And now I feel like I got my answer because, like, for a long time, I didn't have my answer.

I'm like, why did I have to go through that? And I finally feel like I got my answer because, I mean, now I turn to God. I'm like very, you know, I'm a Catholic. I go to church every Sunday. As a matter of fact, I went to church this morning before coming here. And God sometimes eruptly takes something out of your life that is no longer, you know, in use. You know, like, yeah, he abruptly takes something out of your life. And Joe was abruptly taken out of my life.

He really was. I mean, like, he got deported. Like, he went to prison for three years and then got deported. and really three years and eight months because he stayed in ice for eight months trying to fight it. And then he abruptly got taken out of my life. And so I guess

God saw he was not for me, you know? And then I met Louis, that, you know, amazing guy that absolutely fell in love, like head over heels. And I'm like, oh my God, this is what falling in love like hard really means. And then he treats my daughters

like they're his own. which that is pretty amazing. Because, like, I remember Joe used to say to me, you're never going to find a guy that's going to want you with four kids. And that's true. Like, that's a lot of baggage. You know, I mean, I want to say my kids are baggage, but it's a lot.

Like, for a guy to come into your life and take on that responsibility. I mean, and thank God, you know, I was doing well. Like, I didn't need him financially. But still, it is. a lot, you know, it's just a lot, you know, because you never know if they're going to accept you and all that. It's, you know, I mean, he could have found somebody else, but not with four daughters. But, I mean, my girls are amazing. How long were you going through the motions for before the public found out that of your legal situation, what you're going, what you're dealing with?

You know what? Joe was basically dealing with it at all. Like, I was just like oblivious, like, I really, because I didn't know any of it. So I was like, you need to talk to him. And like, He, like, I didn't, you know, and I didn't get along with my lawyer. Yeah, because I think they're all in cahoots. I really do. Like, you know, here I am, paid them all this money. And, I mean, I don't think he can't sue me for this with Kenny. I think you're fine.

People have said way worse. Oh, yeah. No, I just feel like it was all, like, I think they knew I was just going to go away. Like, because it was such a, like, I think, you know, I had, because being in the public eye, like, I had to do time. Do you agree with that? Yeah. And I think it's way worse when you're in the public eye. I mean, my case was very much, like, polarized because I was a young teenage nightclub owner.

That was, I went to trial in my federal case. Oh, see, I wanted to go to trial. And then I heard that going to trial is not, we were going to go to trial. And then they talked us out of it because they're like, you. If you lose, you're going to get double the time. And they probably would have put you jointly, so whatever he did would have fell on you. Oh, my God. Yes.

I think it would have been way worse. I think you had a good outcome. And I remember, like, not telling people about it, which I wish, well, you know, listen, you can't go back. You can't talk about spilled milk, right? Because the thing is, sometimes there's people that are more knowledgeable about this. So if you get in trouble, guys, I just want to tell you people out there, you're in trouble, tell people. because there's people that could help you and give you advice and like, oh, use this lawyer, use that, you know. I'm just, because I was very embarrassed because I was like, I was like, what?

I didn't do anything. You know, I was like so. And we, you know, we didn't tell a lot of people. And we're like, and I really, I'm like, I didn't do anything. It's like, they're going to see that. I didn't do anything. So, but then that's why. And then I realized afterwards, I'm like, they're making an example.

Like, I didn't know what that even meant, making an example out of you. Like, I didn't even know what that meant until, like, after it was done to me. Because I'll never forget, like, getting sentenced in the courtroom. And the judge, she judged me. Like, talking about Jimmy Choo's shoes in the courtroom as she's sentencing me and saying that I was trying to keep up with the Joneses. and I was just like, wow, this woman doesn't even know me. And I thought she was going to relate to me because I think she comes from immigrant parents.

Also, she was Hispanic. And I thought she would just totally relate to me. She's like, I'm like, she's going to see that I didn't do anything. It's like she's going to know, like mom to mom. And she was a mom also. And I'm like, she's totally going to see that I didn't do anything. And when I got sentenced and like I said, talking about Jimmy Chushu's as I'm being sentenced.

and she just judged me based on the show. And I'm trying to keep up with the Joneses. I'm like, no, I was not. Like, I'm never trying to. I was not trying to keep up with the Joneses. I never spent beyond my means. I spent, you know, whatever if, you know, because we had it. But I never went like overboard and any weird designer head to toe.

You know, I mean, if you watch the show, you'll see. But when she sentenced me, I said, looked at my lawyer and I'm like, did she just sentence? Am I going to jail? Like, I didn't even understand the language. Like, I guess I was just, like, so numb to it. And he's like, yeah. I was just like, what? I was like, and then that I was so angry, so angry.

So that's why I was like, went in there, never shed a tear. Like, going in did not shed a tear at all. Like, I was just so angry. Like, I'm like, I don't. don't belong here. But I'm like, okay, if I need to do what I have to do, I'm going to do it. And I just focused on myself, worked out every single day, ran, walked a track, did yoga every day. I cooked a few times for everyone and they liked my food because everyone was really nice. Everyone was nice to me. Some girls would give me some looks and I'll be like, don't even try it because

I'm like I'm that type of person like I don't take shit from anybody and especially because I was so angry. I'm like if anybody even starts with me, it won't be good. But that never happened. You know, like some girls would just give me a dirty looks in the gym and I'll be like, what are you looking at? You know? But otherwise, everyone was pretty respectful and pretty nice. They really were. Tell us about the day the world found out you were going to prison, the amount of pressure that was on you and how you were feeling when it broke headlines. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. I mean, I was, I felt like that, I was just like, I don't know, I was very strong because I was like, I got to be strong for my daughters. I always thought about my kids. Like, that was, like, I have to be strong for my kids. And I told my kids I was going to work. Like, they didn't even, because they were young. They didn't even know. I think Gia, I don't know if Gia was the only one that I think knew. but the other ones thought, I said I was going to work.

And yeah, I mean, how did it feel? I mean, I don't know. I just, I didn't, like, I wasn't crying or anything. I didn't cry. I'm very, very, very strong because I was just angry inside. Like, like, I didn't, I was like, like, I can't believe this is happening to me. Did people that you were close with kind of turn on you, friends or anything? Like, did they badmouth you on social media over that?

or do you think everyone stood united? No, I mean, like all my close friends, I mean, I'm trying to remember. Well, then I found out that my brother was going to Jacqueline's house and reporting everything that I was telling him, because Jacqueline ended up telling me, like, everything that I was telling him, because I was only telling my immediate family what was going on. Not that I didn't want to tell Jacqueline, because Jacqueline at the time was my close friend.

Not that I didn't want to tell her. They tell you. Don't tell your legal stuff to anyone. You know, keep it private. So then Jacqueline told me about my brother and Melissa were running to them every time I told them something and telling them everything that I would say. And so I was just like, well, I didn't know that. I didn't find out, you know, until a few years later, a few years ago because Jacqueline and I made up and she told me everything. So, yeah, listen, I'm sure there was people out there, you know, all haters, like putting stuff on social media.

I didn't let that get to me because I was very secure of who I am. And I'm like, I didn't do anything. I'm like, there's a reason why I have to go through this. I don't know why. But I was like, really, God? Really? Even when I used to be in Danbury. Like, I have to say that watching the four seasons change while I was there was pretty, that was.

that was like, I was like, it never really, it gave me a new, like, sense of nature because I was, like, I never saw that before. Like, it was just like, I liked being outside and, and it just, I don't know, I feel like God was giving me a break. I'm like, all right, God, I never went away to college. And I felt like that was college, but not that kind of college. And I was like, really, this is this what you try to send me to, I'm like, I'd rather just because I used to talk to him a lot when I was there.

And so I would like that's what it was I was away at college but you can't just leave the you know you can't leave the campus like you're stuck there. And you had to just wear the same clothes every day, you know, get them washed or whatever. I mean where I was, it was not bad at all. Not bad at all. I mean like I said, I just worked, you know, on my body, on myself. I wrote my memoir that when I came out. and ended up being a bestseller. It was turning the tables.

And, yeah. When did it hit you that you were going to prison? Was it like the night before? Was it weeks before, months before? Well, I felt like the stepmother. You know that movie, The Stepmother? I've heard of. I don't think I've seen it.

Oh, you need to watch that movie to Stemmother. Well, she had cancer. She was dying. So she was doing things with her kids, with her daughter, like, every day. And, like, wanted to set memories. up so, you know, so her daughter will never forget about her. So that's what I felt like. I felt like like I was, you know, like leaving my kids. So I was doing things with them all the time. Like, I remember it was right before Christmas. I took them to Central Park. We went ice skating.

Just everything. I was taking them, you know, horseback riding, just, you know, to the movies. Just whatever they wanted to do, I do with them. Like, just fun. activities, you know, to spend... This episode is brought to you by Subaru. Go further in a long-range Subaru hybrid, with up to 581 miles per tank in the Forrester hybrid. Longer range, better fuel efficiency, and legendary symmetrical all-wheel drive standard. The Subaru Forester Hybrid.

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engineered for whatever. I think so much time with them because I didn't want to. them to forget about me. Tell us about the day you self-surrendered because I remember reading all the articles like in real time. I was going through my case and you were self-surrendering and TMZ and the paparazzi were like talking about it. You went there early. Did you go that diner too? That was right next to Elmer's diner. Yes. Yes. Yes. I went there. Yeah, I went there early. Yeah, I did go there early because I just wanted to beat paparazzi

because they were in front of my house. They were in front of my house, yeah. And they followed you all the way to Danbury? No, I left earlier, so they didn't weren't. That's why I left earlier, so they wouldn't follow me. Yeah, because I knew they were going to be in my house like Friday in the morning, and they were.

And they were. Yeah, Joe told me they were there. Do you remember your last meal before you went in? At the diner, whatever I was eating at the diner. Okay. I think it was maybe an egg sandwich or whatever, yeah. I didn't even care about that. I didn't care about the food. Yeah, I didn't care about the food. And tell you truth, I liked the food in there. The food is not bad in there. It really wasn't. I mean, there was a lot of things, like, that I ended up liking, like,

cabbage, like, stir-fried cabbage. Yeah, like, things that they had these best banana nut muffins when I first got there and then they ran out. Then they stopped serving them. And I'm like, they were, like, so good. Like, I'm telling you, the food wasn't bad for for me. It really wasn't. Were you afraid to go into prison based on stories, movies, anything like that? You know what? I wasn't. Isn't it crazy? And like, growing

up, we, the jail was like a bad thing. Like, when we heard that someone went to jail. And it's so crazy. Like, you know, when they say never judge, my brother's, I must tell us it, my brother's first fiancé's dad went to to prison. And they had to postpone their wedding because her dad went to prison. I'm not going to say

names. And my parents, we were all in shock. Like, oh my God, he went to prison. Like, it was a bad thing, like going to prison, you know? And isn't it so crazy that 10 years after that, like, whatever, I think it was like 10 years later, then I went to prison. You see how life works. So never judge. You know, not that my parents were just like, oh my God, like they were like in shock, like that they would, you know, that, you know, that her dad was going to prison. But not saying in a bad way, just like shocked. And then look, and then that happened to me 10 years later. Do you think that mentality is why you never really spoke on it too much in death in the years coming out of prison? Yeah.

What about, what do you mean? Just about your whole situation and circumstances in prison itself. Like that I didn't talk about. about it? Yeah, I was, I don't like saying that I went to prison because I don't want it to define who I am. And now I'm really, I'm, now, look, it's been 10 years. Now I'm like, you know, I'm okay to talk about it because now I got my answer. Like, you know, when you, when you look, now it's been 10 years. Like, now I can stand back and look at the whole picture. Like, there was a reason why this all had happened to me.

Like, in order of, yeah, I mean, it was, I guess, part of my journey, like, to go through all that. And God had something else in store for me to, you know, meet Louis and to be, you know, to have a different life. Tell us about day one in prison what that was like from when you first walked in through the doors. Okay, they didn't, like, again, never had handcuffs on me or anything. I walked in and I'd go in with my hair done. makeup on, yeah. I'm like, they're going to get a good picture of me. They're going to get, like, my picture is going to be good. So I, and I walk in, they take my picture. They have, they fingerprint me. And that's it. I'm making this, this room, like, waiting for them to come.

And it was like, like, bars. And I was just like, okay. And that was it. But then that's not where, I didn't know if that's where I was going to stay. But that was just like, you know, where you did the fingerprint and take your picture. And then they took me to this, like it looked like a basement. And it was a room. And I was in a room with six people. Like with three, two beds, two beds, two beds, two beds, like, you know, bump beds. And I shared a room with six girls.

I wrote about it in my book. And like I'll never forget the first night. like two of the girls were having sex in the room. I was just like, oh, my God, this is the show. I put the covers over my head, and I was just like, oh, my God, here we go. Did the woman there know who you were right off the bat? Yes. Oh, yeah, they knew.

Oh, and that was another thing. When I got there, like, this one girl comes right up to me and gives me like a whole thing of stuff, you know? A lot of girls, you know, they're like, they gave me a lot of stuff. And I was like, thank you. You know, it was really nice. Like, I was, they, they really welcomed me. Did you feel like the prison treated you a certain way on day one when you got there?

Because I was in prison when some celebrities have self-surrendered. And the whole prison's, like, shut down. The warden comes and introduces him or herself. It's a big spectacle. Yeah, no, they were, everyone was really nice to me. I mean, they used to lock down, like, we weren't. weren't a lot to go outside because there was helicopters flying over our campus. To see you?

Yeah, trying to take my picture. Yeah, and then that's when the girls would get pissed at me because they weren't a lot to go outside. And I'm like, it's not my freaking fall, you know? Like, sorry, you know, it's not my fault. I didn't tell them to freaking come and take a picture. I don't want them taking a picture of me, you know? Yeah, it's like, yeah, so it's like that I didn't have control over that. What was your favorite prison meal?

Like that was made through commissary. I know you were just talking about saying that you would cook for the girls. Oh, okay. Tuna fish, hot sauce, and peanuts. I miss eating that. We have commissary food upstairs if you want some. Yeah, like I like tuna fish, regular peanuts, no salt, and hot sauce. Have you made a prison cookbook?

No, I haven't. You should do that. Yeah? I think it would sell. Really? Yeah, you'd be the first celebrity to do that. know, but how many, I mean, how many recipes can I, I mean. Hundreds.

You know, we had like a prison cooking show where we would compete against each other. Really? It was pretty fun. You'd have like a couple minutes to make prison dishes. I know, but it's not, I don't know. I'd rather do another cookbook, but, you know, not prison. What were some of like the rules the ladies were telling you about? It's not who I am.

Like, I didn't actually commit a crime. That's the thing. So I don't want to promote that. And it's not like. listen, I'm okay with talking about it now, but it's not, I shouldn't have been there. I really shouldn't have. And that's why people, you know, I am, and I did take accountability. I did do my time.

I did it like a champ. I did it. But it's, you know, it's upsetting to me because I know the truth. And it's like, that's what I don't understand. It's like, you know, I guess, like I said, there was a reason why I had to go, maybe for a to get out of my life and for me to, you know, to have a different path, you know, which, you know, I'm happy about. But, you know, I didn't enjoy being away from my daughters. Like, to me, my daughters are my life. And, and this is a thing. I was an adult. I could take, I'll take anything,

but it was my poor kids that had to go through it. And that was the thing, Joe and I, we were adults. We could take anything. But our kids had to deal with that. And I felt, you know, I that's who I felt bad for, you know, at the end of the day, that's who suffered the most was the kids. Did the woman there teach you, like, some prison rules at all guidelines you had to follow outside of, like, what the actual prison rules were? Like, where to sit or how to use the bathroom a certain way or anything like that? Do they have certain requirements? I'm trying to think, probably, yes. It's been a while.

Oh, my God, it's been a while, yeah. I mean, yeah, there were rules. Yeah, I mean, you know, see, I was and wasn't like how you were, like four dicks. Like, I remember, I didn't even ask Joe that many questions because I was so pissed at him. It really was. And I didn't even visit him that much because, yeah, I just couldn't see myself going back there. Yeah, it was, you know. And you have an interesting perspective that you were behind the walls in prison.

and then you also visited someone in prison. And I was telling you that the first time I ever saw you, I was in the visiting room when you were visiting Joe. Right. I know. And what was your, like, take on me? I just knew you were famous. I knew you had been to Danbury Prison because you were like the talk of the town

at the time in every news article and everything because Danbury is not really known for much. So you were in every article all the time. But I just knew it was a big spectacle that day. There was like more guards. I think your daughters were there. Yeah, it was crazy. I mean, even when I left, when I'd left, when I'd left, left Danbury, they, I felt like I was like, you know, yeah, like, like, you know, like, I don't know,

like a famous, but like I was going to, I remember at the time, I felt like I was like, I felt like I was like Madonna or like the president or, or, you know, or the president's wife. Like, because they were following me home, followed me home and trying to get a picture of me. So I had to like dunk down in the, in the car, in the SUV to make sure they don't get pictures of me. Yeah, because I'm like, if I'm going to get, I'm going to sell my first picture. Nobody's taking a picture of me and selling it and making money off it. I'm going to sell my first picture.

So that's what I did. Yeah. And I sold my first picture because I was like, they're not doing that. Yeah. That was also the peak of Orange is the New Black, which is based on Danbury. Right. Oh, my God. So you were caught in that era of it too.

Yes. Yes. Yeah. That was definitely. And I would say, like, my thing was, I never watched it. You never watched it? No. You've got to watch it.

You know, Melania, my daughter Melania, loved that show. Yeah. And yeah, you know what? I'm going to watch that. That's your homework. Yeah, I'm going to do it. You should do like a whole YouTube reaction video of like you watch. You can make like a series of you watching it reacting what's real, what's not.

Or I can even talk about it on my podcast. Yeah, you should. Absolutely. Yeah, because I have my podcast too. That would be a great episode. Yeah, you know, I never watched it. Yeah, because the thing was I was angry for a long time and just accepting. it just because you get judged and that's the thing and I felt bad for my kids like I always

think about my kids and like you know like anybody's saying anything to them and just even like being like I was so upset it's like here I did so well you know it became this you know like a me like I guess you would you would you call me the breakout star of her house as in New Jersey yeah you're the you're the most known one I would say yeah oh gee exactly and and here all my business were taking off. I was doing so well. At the time, I had my own alcohol brand Fabolini. I had my own food line. I had my own, I had my dessert line coming out. I had a hair product line coming out. I had it out. It was a Malani hair. I had all this stuff. And then all the legal stuff happened. And it's like, boom. Everything came crashing down. I was just so upset. Do you feel like a lot

of people in the industry kind of blacklisted you during that time because of what you were going through? dude, they have to because it's like, yeah, you go to prison, you know? And then it's like, yeah, so all my businesses took a hit. And that was it. They all went, you know, bye-bye. So it's like I was just so upset with Joe. Like I was like, you know. Now, speaking of what you were saying that, you know, you didn't really know what was going on behind the scenes and Joe was at fault.

Did you notice that in prison there was a lot of other women in similar situations where the man caused them to be in prison? Yeah, I mean, there was girls in there that got 10 years for being in a car with their boyfriend that had drugs. That I feel so bad for. Because I was like, if I thought I had it bad, like looking at them, I didn't have it that bad. You know, like, I felt so bad for them. And, yeah, that was like, that was the worst I heard, like being in a car with their boyfriend getting busted and then them getting 10 years. What do you think was the biggest misconception about prison, especially, going from, you know, never being in prison before knowing what the public thought of prison

and then being there yourself. Like being behind bars. Like I wasn't behind bars. I was, it looked like like I was in a dorm room. Like I was like, because I saw what when I took my kids to college, I'm like, this is what it looked like for me, but not as clean and not as clean. Like, I mean, it was just where I was. It was a little older. Because then they built the jail. They made him nice. because then I remember my roommate, she went to the, they built a new part. So then they were staying in a brand new building.

So I was like, yeah. So it was just where I was. It was just like in the basement. It was like, I remember in the wintertime was like cold. Like, you know, just a little colder.

Like, you know, it's like you needed more blankets, which was, you know, it was like, you know, like you knew where to get them. What was your prison job? My prison job was in the cafeteria.

I think like, um, I got the easiest job. Like, I think, I don't even know what it was. Like wiping the tables or something? Yeah, maybe. I think so. Yes, I think that's what it was.

But, like, I did it very little. And then so, and I used to like hanging out in the cafeteria because then just I would get the banana nut muffins. Yeah, I really would. Did any of the woman ever try to try you there or pick a fight with you? Well, no. this one girl she would give me dirty looks in the gym

and she was like pretty buff and I was just like you don't scare me yeah yeah because I was so angry that I was just like if anybody mess with me it would have not been good like and I had that attitude with me because I knew I didn't belong there

so I had that like don't fuck with me attitude like that attitude what do you think was the hardest thing about prison for you being away from my daughters. Yeah, that was the hardest thing. But like I said, I still, I was like, I'm here.

I'm going to make it a purpose. And then I did yoga, worked out, you know, ran the track. I ended up winning. We had a competition with the whole prison. I did a 10-minute plank, and I won. Yeah. Did you make makeup at all in prison? I know some woman do that.

And you went from wearing, you know, and nice clothes all the time to going to clothing clothes. Yeah, no, I didn't make makeup. I used to buy whatever they had in the commissary. Like, I would buy everything in the commissary. Like, I would spend $300 every week on the commissary. What was it like to get a visit from your ex-husband there or your kids if they came at all? Yeah, and my mom came.

My mom and my Joe and my daughters came every single week. It was, you know, we would talk about everything. And then every time they left, Joe. would always cry. He would always cry every time he was leaving. And for the audience to know that doesn't know your story, he was going to serve his time right after you got out. Yeah, right after me.

Like I came home and then he left three months later. Oh, so you guys did get three months together? Yes. Did you know that would be the last time you would ever have together over here? No, I didn't know. Yeah, I didn't know. Would you have done anything differently if you knew at the time? No.

No. I was kind of angry. him. Like, I did stand by his side, but it's like he, like, he, like, screwed our whole family up. You know, he did it. Like, who doesn't file taxes? Like, are you kidding me? Like, you know, at least if you file taxes, then they, you know, they probably wouldn't have came after him, you know, but like, who doesn't do that? Like, he asked for. How much time did you have to serve in prison? I think 11.5 months. And you weren't sentenced to a year and a day, right?

Where they gave you extra time off? I think 15 months or something like that. And then you would do 85% of the time or something like that. Yeah. What was that last day in prison like? Everybody, like, we had a party. Yeah, everybody had a party. That's what you do.

When people leave, like, we get together in the cafeteria. They bring food, dessert, and like that. And everybody wrote me cards, me gifts. Do you still talk to anyone from prison to this day? I do. I had lunch with them. My roommate, she was a politician and another girl. She lives in Pennsylvania. And then I saw someone else. I saw her, she lives in Tampa. And I had an event in Tampa and she came to it. That's nice. That was the person when I got there. She gave me a whole basket of stuff. Yeah, like got me like a lot of things. Do you think prison helped?

your career after because you did get a ton of press when you got out of prison. Do you think you were able to use that to catapult to your second act? Well, you know, I guess a lot of people, I guess, maybe felt, like, what do you think? I think it helped you

tremendously in a positive way. And I guess people really saw, like they probably knew that. You know, a lot of people, some people say, oh, she knew. No, I didn't know. I said, like, I'm saying, like it's been 10 years now. And I already did it. I did my time.

So it's not like, you know. So I guess it did help because people did, you know, a lot of people felt, probably felt bad for me because they saw, they knew the truth. Listen, people talk. Right? It ends up being a small world. Very small. That if I did work for Joe or I knew his business, everybody would know that. You know, like, so, and I didn't.

So everyone, because, you know, it's like, you know, the small is very, even though the world's so big, it's like everybody. I mean, we're here today through mutual connections. Yeah, isn't that crazy? Yeah. Yeah. All through the power of social media. Right. So at the end of the day, like, I'm just saying, if I had, if I was really guilty, people would have known that.

I think there's no such thing as bad press unless it's like a horrible accusation. But I think, like, the press in our scenarios help build platforms even more. more people knew you but I think it extended it to a broader audience and had eyes on you. You're right. And you could have either made a mistake and ruined it or you rise up from that. And I remember reading those articles. You had books. Like you did the right thing.

You had the books out right away. You ran with it, you know? Yeah. I wrote my memoir while I was in there. And then I ended up writing my second memoir. And you got a ton of good interviews and stuff when you got out and like on bigger platforms and then it just rose, which is cool. Yeah. Yeah.

So. Now, when Joe went to prison, how did that make you feel separate, having your family apart again? It's so weird. I think when Joe left, I felt like a weight was lifted off of me. Yeah, being honest. And I redid the whole house. Like, our cabinets used to be wood. And I'm like, I just want it bright.

I'm like, because he wanted wood. I was like, I painted all the cabinets painted. I just was like, I finally am living on my own. Like, this is me living on my own. Yeah, and then, well, this is what happened. That's how my mom got sick. So I get out. Joe leaves three months later.

Then my mom gets sick five months after that. Oh, that was like the worst time of my life. Like that, you know, besides going to prison and I lost my mom three months after that. So, like, that was like, oh, that's what I really hated Joe. Like, I really did because I was like, I'm like, I lost time with my mom. Like, those, you know, 11 and a half months, I could have been with my mother. So I was so cool. That's when I knew it was over.

When I lost my mom, I knew it was definitely, that's when I knew it was over. Because I was just so angry. So that's why I hardly went to go see him. Like, I mean, I think I went, like, maybe, I don't bet, once. And, like, and then my mom got sick once, you know, once or twice in three months. Mine. Wishing you could be there live for the big game, soaking up the atmosphere of the crowd. But too often, life gets busy or the price holds you back. Priceline is here to help you make it happen.

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And then I was just so angry. The public didn't know, though, that you were going your separate ways? Were you guys trying to stay united? Well, I stayed. I fought for him until he left. Until I saw him in Italy. Like, it wasn't just how I felt inside. Like, I didn't let the kids know anything and let, you know, anybody know anything.

It's just how I felt inside. Like, when I lost my mom, that's what I knew. Like, I don't, like, I'm done with him. but nobody knew it but me. How was that first conversation with your kids explaining that you were in prison and what prison even was? Well, I think

they started knowing when their father went and I was very open with them and told them the truth. The only one that didn't know was my youngest because she was six years old when Joe left. So she's the only one that didn't know. Yeah, and I just told them the truth because I didn't want if anybody was like bullying them

school or anything like that. Do you know if kids bullied them? Some people said things to them, yeah. But, like, that's why my girls are really so strong and amazing because it's like how I raised them and I want them to be confident and I want them to know the truth and to know, like, you know, I told them like, Mommy didn't do anything and they know everything. And, you know, they didn't. So, and if they have any questions, we have no problem telling them.

From an outsider's perspective, it all looks like you guys are your biggest fans. Like you guys are so supportive with each other. Oh, we are. We are. I mean, listen, I support Joe too because he's, at the end of the day, he is the father of my kids. I mean, if I have to tell him off, I tell him off. Like, I mean, look, I take care of the, my daughter's on my own. Yeah, I mean, and Louis's amazing.

He, like, helps also. And, but Joe doesn't help. Like, you know, he lives in the Bahamas and he says he can't afford it. I mean, I think he sent me my first ballot. $1,000 the other day. I was like, oh, I almost fell over. I was like, what the hell? Like, I can't believe it.

Like, yeah. That was like a shock to me. And like, and look, it's been 10 years. How did it make you feel when you found out that he wasn't going to be able to come home after prison? Not necessarily maybe for your sake, but for your kids' sake. I was sad for them. Yeah. I was, you know, I was sad for them.

But, you know, he made a mistake. He made a big, big mistake. And he should have became an American citizen. And listen, and at the end of the day, I hope something changes in the future because it was paperwork. Like, and I don't think somebody should get deported over paperwork, you know, over not filing taxes. And I don't know. I mean, and I paid back all the taxes now. Like, I paid back all his taxes.

I paid back everything, the restitution, everything. I took care of everything. And, I mean, at the end of the day, it's for the kid. like that, you know, if they could have their father here. I mean, that's it. It's not like, you know, it's not like he killed anyone or it's not like, it's, you know, it's paperwork. You know, that's the thing. If he would have did the paperwork to become an American citizen, that would have never happened.

It's all paperwork. So he doesn't automatically become a citizen when you guys got married? You have to do paperwork. Oh, he just didn't file it. We just didn't. And I tried. I tried to do the paperwork. It was just complicated.

And I didn't know that we should have hired a lawyer. And if we would have hired a lawyer, then we would have done. His parents were American citizens. Yeah. And like they didn't ever mean, they should have told Joe to do it. You see what I mean how, like it was so stupid not to do it because his parents were American citizens. And the law changed that the father had, it was right before when the president changed

the law that the mom has to become, has to. like she had to become American citizen before Joe was 18. Joe's mother became American citizen after he turned 18. So the father did it before he was 18. But then the law changed that it had to be the mother that has to do it before 18. Isn't that crazy? She became American citizen, I think, when Joe was like 19. How long do you think it took you to really find your footing

and get back on the same track you had before prison in the entertainment world? in your life, everything like that? Oh, like work-wise? Yeah. I mean, you know, I guess a couple years. Yeah, a couple years. I mean, listen, they waited for me to come home. So, I mean, I was grateful and thankful that I got my job

as soon as I came home. I mean, I started filming as soon as I walked out of that prison. Yeah. So, but, you know, then I had to, like, you know, build up stuff. Hopefully it made your value increase, prison. coming back after a hiatus like that. I mean, it didn't, it didn't. You know, because like some brands don't want to be associated with that.

Do you think still to this day brands won't touch you because of that? I mean, I don't know about still to this day. No, I think that's like the whole perception on Housewives. Yeah. But, like, you know, I don't know. I mean, what do you think? I think when I got started in the entertainment world, it took me two years. to get my first sponsor almost.

See? Because no one wants to touch it. Right. They want to build credibility. Right. Now I have sponsors because I've kind of proven myself. I'm on the right track. Doing the Mr. Beast video helped to give me credibility.

And as my platform grows. And I think it comes to a certain point, too, where it's like they can't kind of not work with you when your platform's building. I mean, you take someone like you, you have millions of followers, you have the brand. It's only hurting them not working with you. Right. I mean, that's the thing. I don't think anybody judges anymore.

A lot less now, given everything going on in the world. Right, exactly. Which is like now we're in a different time, different world. Yeah, exactly, because of everything going on. If there's one thing you could do differently throughout your whole life, what do you think that thing would be? Nothing. I mean, listen, my life already happened, so you can't, you know, you can't,

I can't change anything. I mean, what would I do different? Never signed those documents with, yeah, never of. let Joe use my credit. Yeah, I would have never made him use my credit. What do you think is the most important thing you've learned about the America's criminal justice system going through it yourself firsthand? That's not fair.

Yeah, I mean, because I know. I'm like, you know, I didn't, I know I didn't intentionally commit a crime. Yes, I committed a crime because my John Hancock was on those papers, but I didn't actually do it. You know, like meeting. like I wasn't intentionally trying to commit a crime. I guess, look, I had to do the time because I did sign those papers. And, yeah.

What would you say to people that might think you were privileged throughout your experience in the criminal justice system? Maybe with your sentence or just, you know, your experience in prison? I wasn't privileged. I mean, it's just where I was. Like, it wasn't a hard core jail. I was federal. So federal is paperwork. Federal is like there was lawyers in there, doctors.

Yeah, there was, I mean, there were, you know, people that got caught. Like I said, like, you know, with drug dealers that got 10 years. I mean, that was crazy. But, like, my prison wasn't that kind of prison. It wasn't like a state prison. It was just, you know, it was not hard court at all. What do you think is your biggest? I mean, I got my, I used to get, there was a salon in my,

in my prison. I got my hair colored. How much did you pay for that? I don't remember now. I think I wrote it in my book. I don't remember. But yeah, you still get my hair colored. Do people still ask you about... And you can get your hair blown out. Like, you know, you just pay people to do it. Do you people still ask you about prison to this day? Like friends or family? No. No, not really. No. No, it's been a...

It's been a minute. It's, yeah. When you got out, what was the biggest question everyone had? for you. What was the biggest question? How was it really? Was it like orange is the new black? See, you've got to watch it. Yeah, that I was just like, well, like there were girls having sex with other girls.

And yeah, so I guess that goes on over there, right? They probably asked if you had a prison girlfriend at all. Yeah, no, nobody asked that. They already knew that. Yeah, they already knew that that wouldn't happen. But, yeah, and how was the food? How was the food? I was like, the food was fine.

You could take classes there. Like, they had, like, inmates teaching certain classes. So it's like, you know, you go to school while you're in prison. And, yeah, and how was it like? And, yeah. Were you curious about Joe's prison sentence at all, or you didn't even care at that point? I didn't even care at that point. Didn't even, I was just angry at him.

Like, yeah, I was just so angry at him. Yeah, there was just very, yeah. I didn't even ask him. I mean, I think he would tell me a little bit, but I was just so disgusted. You know, because he, like, ruined our family. Like, it's like I feel like, remember that a long time ago?

Scarlett Letter? Like, you know, she walked. I've heard of Scarlet Letter. Yeah. The book. Yeah, the book. And then she walked around because she had a letter on her back. Yeah, like he tainted our family to, you know,

because he made a mistake. He made a big mistake. And, you know, he shouldn't have did that. He should have thought about his family before doing any of that. Like, if he wanted to do that, then he should have never got married and had kids and been on his own. What do you think is people's biggest misconception about you? I mean, what's my, what do you think about me? I always felt like reality TV celebrities

or just kind of like stuck up or just like on a different planet or anything like that but when you're just a normal person like you're kind like you talk with us Of course, yeah I'm very down to earth like I don't know maybe some people think I'm like this

mean person because you know I'm my show I'm always defending myself and everyone says I don't take accountability I have no problem taking accountability. Of course I'll take accountability. But it's the way the show is edited. It's got to be dramatized, dramatized.

Yes, it has to, yeah. I mean, listen, drama sells. And not that I even want to cause the drama, but they come after me, and then I have to defend myself. And when I defend myself, I'm hardcore. And that's, and I guess, then I kind of look like,

this mean person, you know, which, you know, I'm defending myself. That's what I'm doing, you know. What's one thing you know now that you wish you knew in your teenage years? One thing I know now that I wish I knew in my teenage years. One thing I know. That, you know what, mistakes are going to happen in life. Things are going to happen. And, you know what, when you fall, you just have to, I mean, I already knew you have to.

You have to get yourself out. But listen, things happen, shit happens. And no one's perfect. No one's perfect. And you know what? Think, you know, when things happen in life, it just makes you grow and it makes you stronger and it makes you become the person that you are. Because, you know, it's okay to have to make mistakes.

But, you know, listen, like make mistakes like, no, you know, meaning like no one's perfect. But not that you have to be perfect. in life because there's no such thing as being perfect. Absolutely. Like, yeah, like, I tried, this is the thing. I knew I was such a good kid. Like, I really was, I was such a good kid. I listened to my parents.

I did everything right. And then look, and sometimes even if you do everything right, like, I would have never in a million years, but if you asked me in high school, would you, would you, do you think you're ever going to go to prison? I'll be like, absolutely not. and like never in like if somebody says all right I'm going to give you $100 million right now do you think you're going to go to president and be like no like keep your money it's not happening but I think that's why your story is so important because it shows how the criminal justice system is

and that it can't affect anyone exactly that's it could affect anyone exactly like never in a million years that in your my wildest dreams that I would ever think that I would have gone to prison And especially just of my upbringing and who I was and how I was and did everything right. And I was such a goody two shoes. And like I had a curfew. I could like never try drugs. And like that I went to prison. Okay.

Like you can't make this shit out. At least now I can laugh about it. Any of the other reality TV stars that go to prison, do any of them ever hit you up for advice or anything? No. No, they didn't. No. You could have been like a celebrity prison consultant for the stars. Yeah.

I mean, not that I even want to be that. I know. It would have been funny. I mean, listen, if somebody asked me, like, for instance, I just did special forces, and I asked two of the other housewives that did it because I was, like, terrified about doing it. I was like, is it really that hard? And they're like, yeah.

I was like, okay. I couldn't believe you couldn't swim until recently. Yeah, I didn't know how to swim. I did not know how to swim. Yeah, I didn't know how to swim. And I learned. I took swimming lessons right before I went. And my, Gia's going to, oh, Gia never put the TikTok out.

Of your swimming lessons? Yes. Yeah, you got to put that out. She never put, I don't think she did because I would have probably saw it. Yeah, she videotaped me taking swimming lessons. She was making fun of me, yeah. But I do feel like more comfortable now being, like if I had to jump in the ocean now, I would do it. Yeah, no.

And I'm glad I'm glad I just. special force it was a good experience that's awesome well teresa thanks so much for coming on the show today it was a great conversation i really appreciate thank you did i answer all your questions yeah i thought you did great oh awesome yeah thank you thanks for having me of course