Bad news for Real Housewives of Atlanta's Phaedra Parks. The reality star's husband, Apollo Nida, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud, the Associated Press reported Tuesday, May 6.
According to the AP, Department of Justice officials announced in a news release that Nida, 35, admitted to his involvement in a scheme worth some $2.3 million.
UPDATE: Nida's attorney Thomas D. Bever addressed the situation with Us Weekly late Tuesday. "By pleading guilty today, Mr. Nida admits to his conduct in the past, and accepts full responsibility for it," Bever told Us.
Per the AP, federal prosecutors allege that, beginning in 2009, Nida and his co-conspirators stole and obtained checks, filed fraudulent tax returns, and made fraudulent claims against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in at least 11 states. They are also charged with taking out phony auto loans.
The group reportedly laundered the money by stealing people's identities and opening bank accounts in their names. One of the co-conspirators, Gayla St. Julien, was arrested in September 2013, and identified Nida in connection with the crimes.
A separate source told Us the charges are "pretty serious," while adding, "Apollo faces serious jail time. His alleged co-conspirator has told all to prosecutors. That generally means bad news for the last man standing."
Bever, for his part, added to Us: "Potential incarceration will be based on Mr. Nida's sentencing guidelines calculation as well as a variety of other factors, which have not yet been determined."
Nida was questioned by U.S. Marshals back in January. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, he could face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million (on top of restitution). A sentencing hearing has been set for July.
