Teresa Giudice receives a brand new Lexus after prison stint
Christmas came early for Teresa Giudice.
The "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star was released from prison on Wednesday morning, and had a brand new 2016 Lexus LX570 waiting for her, a source confirms to ET. The sleek black ride -- which retails for $95,000 -- even came with a festive red bow on the hood.
When asked how the Giudice family acquired the pricey ride -- especially given that Teresa and her husband, Joe Giudice, once filed for bankruptcy in 2009, claiming $11 million in debt -- Teresa's lawyer, James Leonard Jr., told ET, "They make money."
He also told reporters at a press conference that he didn't know who bought the Lexus, cracking, "Maybe Santa Claus."
The 43-year-old reality star was picked up at the Danbury Correctional Facility in Danbury, Connecticut by her attorney on Wednesday morning, after she was released at 5:01 a.m. She looked stylish as she left jail in jeans, black knee-high boots and a peplum leather jacket -- an outfit that had been picked out since last week, our source tells us -- going directly to her home in New Jersey.
"She's very happy to be home," Leonard Jr. tells ET. "She's very much looking forward to a nice, quiet, low-key holiday with her family."
Obviously, her family is ecstatic she's home as well, after nearly a year behind bars. Teresa's four daughters -- Gia, 14, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 9, and Audriana, 6 -- made a sign on the front door that says "We Missed You," and Bravo cameras were rolling as 43-year-old Joe stood in the garage, no doubt eagerly waiting for her big arrival.
In June, according to court documents obtained by ET, Teresa was required to give her Maserati and 25 percent of her Bravo earnings to the government in order to satisfy a court judgment against her and Joe. The $414,588 judgment was imposed after the couple pleaded guilty in March 2014 to fraud charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and bankruptcy fraud.
Teresa and Joe are accused of earning more than $5 million from their fraudulent behavior.
Last December, Teresa sued her bankruptcy lawyer, James Kridel, for $5 million, blaming him for her incarceration. Though their 2009 bankruptcy filing was dropped in 2011, this petition led to the federal fraud charges against the two. In the 39-count indictment, Teresa and Joe were accused of hiding assets when they submitted their Chapter 7 petition.
Both Teresa and her sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga, will return to "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" for it seventh season, a source close to the show told ET in September. Teresa is to remain on house arrest until Feb. 5.
Watch the video below for more on Teresa's big homecoming after her nearly year-long prison stint.