Teresa & Joe Giudice: Prison, Fraud, Deportation, and a Marriage Destroyed by Crime
Both went to prison for fraud, he was deported to Italy, and she filed for divorce from 4,000 miles away — the most dramatic downfall in Housewives history
Key Facts
What Happened
Teresa and Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice were stars of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, known for their lavish lifestyle, table-flipping drama, and four daughters: Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana. Behind the opulence was a massive fraud scheme. In 2014, both were sentenced in federal court — Teresa to 15 months and Joe to 41 months — for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and tax evasion. They had fabricated W-2 forms, submitted fake pay stubs, and lied on mortgage and loan applications to obtain over $5 million in fraudulent loans.
Teresa served 11 months at Danbury Federal Prison and was released in December 2015. Joe began his sentence after Teresa's release (the judge staggered their terms so the children would not be left parentless) and completed 41 months at Allenwood Federal Prison in March 2019. But prison was not the end of Joe's consequences. Because he had never obtained U.S. citizenship despite living in America since he was one year old, an immigration court ordered his deportation to Italy in October 2018.
Joe was transferred directly from prison to ICE custody and eventually agreed to voluntarily return to Italy in October 2019 rather than remain in immigration detention while appealing. His third and final appeal was denied in April 2020. Teresa announced their separation in December 2019, and the divorce was finalized in September 2020. Joe eventually moved to the Bahamas, where he works in the construction industry. Teresa remarried in August 2022, wedding Luis Ruelas in an elaborate ceremony in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
The Giudice case is a uniquely American tragedy — a family destroyed not just by marital problems but by criminal fraud, immigration law, and the harsh reality that non-citizens who commit felonies face deportation regardless of family ties. Their four daughters lost their father to prison, then to another country. Teresa's decision to file for divorce after Joe's deportation was, in many ways, an acknowledgment that the marriage had been a casualty of their own crimes long before the paperwork was signed.
Legal Breakdown: Hidden Assets
Criminal Fraud & Divorce Intersection
When both spouses are convicted of the same crime, the divorce settlement must account for restitution obligations, fines, and ongoing legal costs. Courts may also consider whether one spouse was more culpable than the other when dividing remaining assets. Teresa maintained she was unaware of the extent of Joe's fraud, though she was convicted as well.
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions
Joe Giudice lived in the U.S. since age one but never became a citizen. Under U.S. immigration law, non-citizens convicted of aggravated felonies face mandatory deportation. This case illustrates why immigration attorneys should be consulted alongside criminal defense attorneys when a non-citizen spouse faces charges — the immigration consequences can be more devastating than the criminal sentence itself.
Divorcing a Deported Spouse
Filing for divorce when your spouse has been deported to another country raises complex jurisdictional questions. Teresa was able to file in New Jersey where she resided, but service of process, property division, and custody arrangements all become more complicated when one party is in a foreign country. International divorce proceedings may require compliance with the Hague Convention.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you and your spouse are both involved in financial fraud, consult separate criminal attorneys — your legal interests diverge the moment charges are filed.
- →Non-citizen spouses should prioritize naturalization. A green card does not protect against deportation after a felony conviction.
- →Divorce after deportation is legally possible but procedurally complex. Custody, support, and visitation across international borders require specialized legal help.
- →Children suffer the most in fraud cases. The Giudice daughters lost their father to prison and then to another country — a reminder that financial crimes have human consequences far beyond the courtroom.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.