Teresa Giudice, Facing Prison, Says She Tries To Be A Role Model

Teresa Giudice could be sent away to prison for 50 years if she’s convicted of all 39 counts of fraud she’s facing, but the reality television star said right now she’s just concerned with being a good role model for her girls.

Teresa and her husband Joe plead not guilty in a New Jersey court to a number of charges, which included mail and wire fraud, making false statements on a loan application, and bankruptcy fraud. The celebrity couple is accused of lying about their income when applying for loans, incidents that took place before they joined the cast of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey.

But while Teresa Giudice maintains her innocence, she has also continued on with her life outside the courtroom. She has been doing promotional work for her new cookbook, saying she wants to keep working to set a good example for her kids.

“I’m not going to stop working,” said Teresa, who added that she and Joe are also planning on opening a restaurant. “It’s a good example to show to my daughters — that Mommy’s a business woman and hopefully they’ll follow in my footsteps.”

Joe and Teresa are free on $500,000 bond while the case proceeds.

In the meantime, the couple decided to make a family trip to the New Jersey shore. Over the weekend the 41-year-old Teresa posted several pictures of the trip on Instagram, including a family photo of herself, Joe and daughters Gia, 12, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 7, and Audriana, 3.

In another photo, Teresa Giudice added the caption, “Memories at the jersey shore… #jerseyshorestrong”

But the happy times may not last for Teresa Giudice and her family. Aside from the prospect of spending 50 years in prison, she may also be separated from her husband. Joe, whose real name is Giuseppe, was born in Italy and recently found out he’s not an American citizen. Facing the prospect of deportation, Joe said he is now applying for citizenship.