Teresa Giudice of the Real Housewives Of New Jersey was apparently shaken down in Danbury prison after security guards suspected she had allegedly smuggled a cell phone into the prison following a series of tweets last summer, reports the Daily Mail . Giudice is currently serving a 15-month term after pleading guilty to fraud-related charges, and she is serving her time at the Connecticut prison.
Tonight on #ENews : Joe Giudice talks about being “the mom” while Teresa Giudice is in prison. pic.twitter.com/RM6AwB5J0P
— E! Entertainment (@eentertainment) October 8, 2015
Teresa is currently starring from behind bars in the three-part Bravo series Real Housewives Of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In , and, during a preview for the second episode, Giudice revealed to her husband Joe Giudice that she “got shaken down” after she asked her daughter to tweet to her fans from her account.
According to the Daily Mail , Teresa asked her oldest daughter, 14-year-old Gia, to thank fans “for all of the cards, letters, and kind words of support I love, love, love you all xo T!” last May.
In June, a second post appeared on the reality star’s Twitter account, and Teresa again thanked her fans for their “outpouring of support.” In her tweet, Giudice also said she loved her fans for “standing by me through this most difficult time. Love love love you all!”
Thank you for your outpouring of support and for standing by me through this most difficult time. Love love love you all!
— Teresa Giudice (@Teresa_Giudice) June 25, 2015
According to People , Teresa has unlimited email access as well as a 300-minute limit on phone time , but the prison does not allow Giudice access to the Internet. Although her husband Joe likens Danbury to a “low-budget spa,” and Gia confesses that Teresa Giudice is “more relaxed” since beginning her prison sentence, the reality star’s attorney James J. Leonard said the scary run-in with the guards is closer to reality behind bars , reports the Daily Mail.
During an episode of Real Housewives Of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In , Leonard revealed that prison “is not a country club, this is not a day in the park for her, you know,” emphasizing that Giudice is “in prison,” even though she’s still on camera at times.
Joe also has complained that he hasn’t had a single conjugal visit, although he does “get to feel her a little bit here and there … and I get yelled at by the guards,” Giudice confided. When Teresa is released, her husband will begin his own 42-month sentence for fraud-related charges.
Despite the harsh conditions, Gia insists that Teresa is weathering prison well, and even has “no bags under her eyes, she’s so positive…she looks so much better,” the teen confessed, according to the Daily Mail.
To explain her absence to her younger children, 10-year-old Gabriella and six-year-old Audriana, Teresa has reportedly told them she’s “working,” and is documenting her experiences so she can write a book , according to People.
Teresa Giudice Tweets In Prison: What Did ‘RHONJ’ Star Tell Fans? http://t.co/WGikL5df2l
— Real Housewives (@RHOGossip) October 5, 2015
Giudice reportedly has begun working in the prison kitchen, and teaches exercise classes to while away the time on her sentence. She will be released on December 23, and is expected to return to The Real Housewives Of New Jersey.
Life on the outside hasn’t been easy for her husband, however, and he confessed that “[e]very day is a tough day without her around,” especially since a Morris County judge rejected the couple’s latest attempt to stave off foreclosure on their famous mansion.
According to NJ.com , Superior Court Judge Stephan C. Hansbury wrote that the reality stars’ latest move to keep their gorgeous mansion has “no basis in fact or law and are meant only to delay the proceedings,” and the home will soon be sold off. Theresa and Joe Giudice do have the option to make good on the money they owe until the date of the sheriff’s sale, reports NJ.com .
When asked about their recent string of foreclosures, Joe responded that he and Teresa Giudice may need to “downsize” once he finishes his own prison sentence, reports the Daily Mail.
The next episode of Real Housewives Of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In will air Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJQnWZhKOJ8
[Image credit: Craig Barritt /Getty Images]