"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice gave a post-sentencing interview to Andy Cohen and revealed exactly what was going through her mind before she heard she would face 15 months in prison.
Teresa and her husband, Joe, joined Cohen for an episode of "Watch What Happens Live" to discuss their Oct. 2 sentencing on 41 counts of bank and bankruptcy fraud. Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in prison, while Joe was sentenced to 41 months in prison. They must also pay a $414,588 restitution.
"I was so nervous yesterday that I was shaking," she said. "My nerves were pulling. At one point, I couldn't even move my fingers, like, they were stuck. I couldn't open my hands. My nerves were shot. I've had sleepless nights. I was shocked. It was very unexpected. I don't even know what to say. I really don't know what to say."
On the day of the hearing, before her sentencing, the 42-year-old read a letter to the judge in a last-ditch effort to get a lighter sentence, saying: “I have heard you. I need to live to do things for myself,” she read. “It’s time for me to wake up. … I will make this right no matter what it takes.” However, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas wound up giving Teresa prison time because she and Joe left "glaring omissions" in their financial disclosure forms.
"For a moment I thought about probation, but I think a period of confinement is absolutely necessary in this case," Salas said. "I don't honestly believe that you understand or respect the law. I need to send a message. In the eyes of the law, it doesn't matter who you are. There are consequences to pay."
Cohen asked if Teresa has been "in denial."
"Well, [it's] time for me to wake up, like, I do need to read things before I sign them," she said. "I do need to understand things before I sign them ... I'm a trustworthy person and sometimes I take, you know, what other people say and I just believe them, and I trust them. And I can't do that anymore. I gotta make sure I fully understand something or fully read it or find a contract lawyer that can help me. Because I don't read contracts every day."
Teresa will begin serving time on Jan. 5 and Joe will serve afterwards so that someone can be caring for their four daughters. She told Cohen that their oldest daughter, Gia, has been strong. She offered to help Joe with her sisters while Teresa is serving her sentence.
The reality star fulfilled her "Housewives" duties by attending the Season 6 reunion episode taping on Sunday. However, TMZ reports she was four hours late and asked to take multiple breaks because she was "going through a lot."
Watch clips from the interview, airing Monday at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo, below.
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