‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Star Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison
Apollo Nida, husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
On Tuesday, July 8, he appeared in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, reports CNN. A representative for the U.S Attorney’s office explained that the reality star, who plead guilty to multiple counts of fraud, was sentenced on charges of conspiring to commit mail, identity theft, wire and bank fraud.
Prosecutors purported that Nida and his co-conspirator, Gayla St. Julien, illegally acquired auto loans by making multiple fraudulent claims against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As previously reported on Inquisitr News, Nida and St. Julien were also accused of depositing checks meant for U.S. Treasury and Delta Airlines pensioners into fraudulent bank accounts. Nida’s criminal actions have reportedly affected more than 50 people in approximately 11 states.
“This defendant organized two separate fake collection agencies, used them to harvest data from databases like Equifax and LexisNexis, and then deployed that data in identity theft attacks tailored to the vulnerabilities and characteristics of each victim,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.
Reginald G. Moore of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office released a statement in reference to Nida’s sentencing. He gave his perspective of what the sentence exemplified.
“Today’s sentencing exemplifies impartial justice regardless of economic class or perceived celebrity status,” said Agent Moore. “Nida’s sentence should be an eye opener for other like-minded criminals who scheme to steal victims’ identities, defraud them and ignore the consequences of their actions.”
Nida faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, reports TMZ. However, due to his reported cooperation with federal investigators by “spilling criminal secrets,” he received a lesser sentence.
U.S. District Court Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr. has also ordered Nida to pay restitution to the victims affected by his offenses. On July 17, 2014, Nida must appear for another hearing to receive the full restitution amount he’ll be ordered to repay.
The news of Nida’s sentences comes almost two months after Nida’s home was auctioned in Atlanta, GA due to failure to pay back taxes in the amount of $2,800. Phaedra Parks and Apollo Nida married on November 1, 2009. They have two children together – Ayden, 3, and Dylan, 1.
[Image via Bing]
