If you do the crime, you must do the time — even if you are a reality TV star. The spotlight will not save you, as Joe and Teresa Giudice, the hapless stars of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” realized when they pleaded guilty to a barrage of charges ranging from bank fraud to tax evasion. They both could be sentenced to more than 21 months. If they’re sent to prison, they can ask other reality stars how to handle to life behind bars.
Richard Hatch, ‘Survivor’
Motivational speaker Richard Hatch was motivated to not pay taxes on the $1 million in prize money he earned on the first season of “Survivor.” He did three years behind bars, from 2006 to 2009. After failing to refile his 2000 and 2001 taxes, Hatch did a little more time, from March to December 2011.
Amber Portwood. ‘Teen Mom’
Amber Portwood of the MTV reality show “Teen Mom” was arrested in Indiana on Dec. 27, 2010, on charges of felony domestic battery and child neglect. She was accused of assaulting Gary Shirley, the father of her 3-year-old daughter, Leah, in front of their child in 2009 and was seen hitting him on a September 2010 episode of “Teen Mom.”
In December 2011, Portwood was arrested again, this time on charges of possession of a controlled substance (prescription drugs) and a probation violation. Portwood was found in possession of prescription drugs. She pleaded guilty. In January 2012, her lawyer struck a plea deal that would call for her to be sent to rehab rather than be sentenced to prison for five years. In February, the deal was accepted.
Alex Da Silva, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
Da Silva was a dance instructor on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” who was sentenced in Los Angeles to 10 years in prison in 2012 for raping one woman and assaulting another. He was convicted of raping a 22-year-old woman in 2002 and attacking another woman with intent to commit rape in 2009. Da Silva will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Alan Beiler, ‘Amish Mafia’
In August 2013, Beiler was sentenced to three to 23 months in jail after injuring a Pennsylvania state trooper while leading police on a car chase. He pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession, driving with a suspended licence and trying to elude the police.
Dave Hester, ‘Storage Wars’
