Teresa Giudice Claims the 'Government Came After Us' After RHONJ Producers Set Up Her Infamous $120K Furniture Scene

Teresa Giudice claims a The Real Housewives of New Jersey a scene orchestrated by the producers may have led to her eventual indictment.

Wednesday, June 19 episode Turning the tables with Teresa Giudice podcast, the reality star, 52, recalled the early days of the show with her former co-stars Jacqueline Laurita and Kim DePaola.

Eventually the trio started talking about the scene that was filmed RHONJ history — when Teresa paid for $120,000 worth of furniture in cash during the first season — and revealed that the scene was actually set by the producers. When the episode aired, the display of wealth surprised not only viewers, but also the United States government, Teresa claimed.

Teresa Giudice says the food in the prison was ‘so good’ that she often cooked her specialty for the inmates

(L) Joe Giudice and Teresa Giudice in the first season of ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.

“I even think that’s why the government came after us,” Teresa said, referring to her ex-husband Joe Giudice’s bankruptcy fraud. After the producers remarked that it would be “cool” if they paid in cash, Teresa and Jaqueline told them they would hold out.

“I had 200 on me. Jacqueline had 300 on me,” Teresa said before Jaqueline added, “And then someone gave you a bunch of whatever mixed up, so it seemed like a lot.”

The mum-of-four continued: “When I went to that furniture store, I think it was the first season, right? They showed how much my furniture costs, about 140 thousand [or] whatever it is. And then there I am, handing out $100 bills, like I’m counting $100 bills. And then they showed the calculator. It looked like I had all that money in cash.”

Bravo did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Jacqueline elaborated on how the producers work to create a story from their real lives.

(L) Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice. Teresa Giudice believes she was ‘used as an example’ for prison fraud charge: ‘Most devastating thing’

“What people don’t realize is that the series is not scripted, but produced,” she explained. “There are producers. They drive the show and make certain things happen [that are] they get talked about and get things started.”

“Things that are talked about outside of the show, if it’s public, are talked about in the show. Like, it’s a produced show, but it’s not scripted. It’s your life, but it’s also produced,” she added.

On July 29, 2013, Teresa and Joe were indicted on federal fraud charges after being accused of exaggerating their incomes while applying for loans before Real Housewives debuted and then hid their improved fortunes in bankruptcy.

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Teresa served 11 months of the original 15 months in prison, while Joe served 41 months but was released 3 years later. The former couple filed for divorce in 2019 and finalized their divorce in 2020 after 20 years of marriage. Joe now lives in the Bahamas, as the Italian was deported from America after a fraud conviction. They have four daughters: Audriana, Milanija, Gabriella and Gija.

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Source: HIS Education