‘Housewives’ stars charged with fraud
Two stars of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” were indicted Monday on federal fraud charges, accused of exaggerating their income while applying for loans before their TV show debuted in 2009, then hiding their improving fortunes in a bankruptcy filing after their first season aired.
Teresa Giudice, 41, and her husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice, 43, of Montville Township, were charged in a 39-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud.
The couple submitted fraudulent mortgage and other loan applications from 2001 through 2008, a year before their show debuted on Bravo, making phony claims about their employment status and salaries, the indictment said.
Prosecutors allege the Giudices received about $4.6 million in mortgages, withdrawals from home equity lines of credit and construction loans. In some instances the couple filed fake W-2s and tax returns.
Joe Giudice also failed to file tax returns for the years 2004 through 2008, when he is alleged to have earned nearly $1 million, the government said. During that time his income allegedly fluctuated wildly; the indictment states he made $323,481 in 2005 and $26,194 in 2006. The reality TV stars were scheduled to make their initial court appearances today.
Theron pledges help in AIDS fight
Actress Charlize Theron has pledged her support in the campaign against AIDS during a meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma.
Theron, an ambassador for the United Nations program on AIDS, met Zuma in Pretoria on Monday to discuss the fight against AIDS in South Africa and across the continent.
The South Africa-born actress says the world has the ability to usher in “an AIDS-free generation.”
Blues musician Buddy Guy is 77. Movie director Peter Bogdanovich is 74 Singer Paul Anka is 72. Jazz musician David Sanborn is 68. Arnold Schwarzenegger is 66. Actor Jean Reno is 65. Actor Frank Stallone is 63. Actress Delta Burke is 57. Actress Lisa Kudrow is 50. Actress Christine Taylor is 42. Actress Hilary Swank is 39.