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Teresa Giudice and Joe face more fraud charges

Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice, of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," were indicted on two more counts of fraud. Teresa and Joe Giudice now face a total of 41 counts, including various fraud and false statement charges.

  • By Katie Zezima Associated Press

| Newark, N.J.

Two stars of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" are facing additional federal fraud charges.

Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice, 43, and Teresa Giudice, 41, were each indicted Monday on one count of bank fraud and one count of loan application fraud.

Federal prosecutors allege the couple prepared a mortgage loan application stating that Teresa Giudice worked as a real estate agent and made $15,000 a month. In reality, authorities said, she was not employed.

Monday's charges are in addition to a 39-count indictment handed down in July, charging the couple with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud.

Joe Giudice also allegedly failed to file tax returns from 2004 to 2008.

The north Jersey residents, parents to four young daughters and known on the show for their lavish lifestyle and massive home, pleaded not guilty in July and are scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges Wednesday.

Henry Klingeman, a lawyer for Teresa Giudice, said she plans to plead not guilty to the new charges.

"She looks forward to defending herself at the trial, scheduled for February 24, 2014," Klingeman said in a statement. "Beyond that, we will answer all of the charges in court, not out."

Miles Feinstein, a lawyer for Joe Giudice, said his client plans to also plead not guilty.

"Our position is that it's really piling on," Feinstein said.

Authorities said the couple exaggerated their income while applying for loans before their TV show debuted in 2009, then hid their improving fortunes in a bankruptcy filing.

Prosecutors alleged in July the Giudices submitted fraudulent mortgage and other loan applications from 2001 to 2008, a year before their Bravo show debuted. The couple is alleged to have made phony claims about employment status and salaries and in some cases filed fake W-2 forms and tax returns.

Prosecutors said the couple received about $4.6 million in mortgages, withdrawals from home equity lines of credit and construction loans.

In her Bravo blog, Teresa Giudice wrote:

"I'm not in denial about it, I know it's serious and terrible, and I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone," she wrote in September. "If you've ever been in any kind of legal situation, even a divorce, you know it can suck your soul dry faster than almost anything else. It's not a pretty process. But I choose to stay positive."

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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