Just days after the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ reunion finale Apollo Nida has pled guilty in U.S. District Court to charges of mail, wire and bank fraud.
He faces up to 30 years in prison and “a fine of up to $1 million on top of restitution for an estimated $2.3 million he allegedly defrauded various individuals, financial institutions and government agencies.”
Apollo’s co-conspirator Gayla St. Julien, who said Apollo was the mastermind behind the entire operation and helped turn him in after she was arrested in September, 2013, received a sentence of 61 m0nths last month.
Today in court, Apollo said, “I take full responsibility for my actions.” He acknowledged that he regrets hurting his family and the people and institutions affected by his fraud. “It was a dumb situation I put myself in.”
He did say that back in 2009, he had just left prison after five years and married Phaedra soon after. She signed on to be a part of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast and Apollo said she was making far more money than him, citing a $600,000 contract, and said he felt pressure to keep up. Being an ex convict, getting honest work was no simple task and so he formulated this scheme.
But he claimed that he told Phaedra that he was running a legitimate debt collection firm and kept her in the dark about what he was really doing. He said once he had gotten started, he found it difficult to stop, trying to keep up with the lifestyle of a reality star.
“I got sucked in and engulfed and lost sight of things.”
Nida said that he didn’t think about the individuals he was potentially hurting because he mostly stole from businesses and the government. He acknowledged that he attempted to open a legal halfway house but he couldn’t because he was still on probation for his prior conviction.
But despite his failed efforts, Nida is clear about where the blame lies. “It’s my fault at the end of the day.”
Right now, Phaedra is expected to return to the show for Season 7. The new season should start production soon. If this is the case.
Apollo will be sentenced July 8 at 2PM so all of this will play out in front of the cameras.
[Source/Court Sketch Photo Credit]
