'RHONJ' star Teresa Giudice opens up about her time in prison, admits to staging release photos

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY: Teresa Giudice recently opened up about her time in prison during her appearance on the 'Hollywood Raw Podcast', as per Daily Mail. 

Notably, 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' star served nearly a year in prison on fraud-related charges in 2015. 

Teresa Giudice admits she staged prison release photos

On the 'Hollywood Raw Podcast', Teresa disclosed, "If they're going to get it anyway, so I might as well make money off of it," about the snaps obtained by PEOPLE Magazine. 

The 'RHONJ' alum, who spent 11 months in prison for charges related to her ex-husband Joe Giudice's bankruptcy fraud, acknowledged to the podcast hosts Dax Holt and Adam Glyn that it was the only time she staged paparazzi photos.

She was originally sentenced to 15 months in addition to probation and fines.

Reflecting on her prison experience, Teresa praised the "beautiful grounds" of the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, and noted that the food was "really good."

Notably, she has also detailed her time in prison in the memoir, 'Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again', released in February 2016, a year after her release. 

During Season 13 of the Bravo series, the reality TV star got emotional when she recalled pleading guilty and serving nearly a year in prison.

Teresa Giudice has finally forgiven her ex-husband Joe Giudice

Teresa and Joe announced their separation in 2019 and filed for divorce following his prison release and subsequent deportation to Italy.

On the podcast, the 'RHONJ' star shared that she is now friends with her ex-husband and has forgiven him, acknowledging the challenges that led to her time in prison, especially when it came to her family. 

She explained, "It took a long time for me to forgive him because then I lost my parents. I came home, I lost my mom eight months later. And then my dad moved in with us and he was so upset."

"He cried for a year straight after my mother passed away, and then I had my dad with us for three years, and then he passed away. They were the best parents ever," elaborated Teresa, adding that her mother was a "saint," who "just lived for me and my brother Joe Gorga."

On the topic of her current husband, Luis Ruelas, who she tied the knot with in 2022, the reality TV star stated, "He's always doing the right thing. He's pretty amazing. It shows the kids that they get along and they love that."

Teresa shares four daughters, Gia, 23, Gabriella, 19, Milania, 17, and Audriana, 13, with her ex-husband, Joe.