Real Housewives

Teresa Giudice has paid approximately half of the restitution she owes as a result of her criminal conviction ... and it seems more than coincidental that she came up with the loot on the heels of a post-conviction, exclusive interview with Bravo.

TMZ has confirmed ... Teresa paid $200,000 that will go toward the $414,588 restitution ordered by the court. Although there are reports Teresa paid the money Tuesday, we've learned it was paid before then.

What's interesting ... just a week ago Teresa and Joe sat down with Andy Cohen for a 2-hour interview ... and our sources say Bravo lined their pockets handsomely.

Translation ... crime doesn't pay ... but it can definitely help you get back in the black.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Phaedra Parks has been quiet about her husband's criminal activities, and what she knew about them -- but now she's being forced to open up in an upcoming deposition.

Phaedra will be grilled by attorneys for author Angela Stanton -- who Phaedra sued for defamation. Stanton wrote a book suggesting Parks knew all about Apollo Nida's illegal activities. Phaedra was already deposed once in the case, but stonewalled attorneys when it came to Apollo.

Teresa Giudice and hubby Joe Giudice are each criminals, but together they are diabolically criminal ... so says the sentencing judge who ordered each of them to put a wall between the other's finances.

According to court docs ... the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars were ordered to keep their personal and business accounts completely separate.

They've each been ordered to pay more than $400K in restitution. It appears at the very least the judge does not want Teresa to pay Joe's debt and vice versa. Fact is ... it's unclear what Joe really does for work, so he's the one who apparently is screwed by the order.

Another point in the docs ... the judge said she did not consider "anonymous letters and phone calls from the public in regards to sentencing."

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Teresa and Joe Giudice could get their heads cracked open in prison if they don't follow one simple rule ... so says convicted drug trafficker 'Freeway' Rick Ross.

Rick spent 13 years in the pokey after his L.A. drug empire collapsed in the '90s ... so he knows a thing or two about life behind bars -- and he's got one important piece of advice to maintain the peace.

Here's a hint ... less Real Housewives ... more Jerry Springer.

Just watch. Especially if your last name is Giudice.

Teresa and Joe Giudice scored a HUGE payday before shipping off to prison ... a deal so sweet the restitution they owe to the government has almost been whittled down to nothing.

The two "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars snagged $325,000 for a two-on-one interview with Bravo head honcho Andy Cohen ... sources close to the deal tell us.

We're told the network offered $275K for Teresa alone, but kicked in another $50K to have her less interesting husband onboard.

The Giudices owe around $400K in restitution -- which means all of the money they made will go directly towards paying off their debt ... but days after the sentencing they can now see the light at the end of the financial tunnel.

Let's hope they remember to pay taxes on the $325K.

UPDATE: Bravo disputes the amount.

Some people eat their favorite meals, some people say their goodbyes ... but Teresa Giudice prepared for prison by pissing off her castmates -- showing up over 4 hours late to their reunion taping.

Sources close to the production tell us her "Real Housewives of New Jersey" co-stars were furious about the tardiness Sunday afternoon ... same for Bravo head honcho Andy Cohen.

And what's worse ... we're told Giudice continued to delay the process once they began filming -- making producers continually start and stop the taping because Teresa said she was "going through a lot" and needed a break.

Her list of visitors in prison will be short.

Teresa and Joe Giudice blew past reporters Thursday after they were sentenced to prison ... but it wasn't because they were too upset to speak ... it's because they were ordered to shut their traps until Andy Cohen could ask them, Wasssup?

Our Giudice sources tell us ... the felonious couple will break their silence Monday on a special "Watch What Happens Live: One-on-One with Teresa and Joe."

It's pretty funny ... when Teresa was begging the judge for mercy she was quick to say she didn't give a crap about TV anymore. What she FAILED to disclose is that she had a secret deal with Andy!

As for what's on Andy's docket ... we're told he'll discuss the Giudice's fears, family and fraudulent ways.

Gotta say ... brilliant move on Bravo's part. And ... it's not like the judge can sentence her for lying ... something Teresa's clearly got down pat.

Teresa Giudice has just been sentenced to prison for 15 months ... she was hysterical, but it could have been a lot worse for her.

She will begin serving the sentence January 5. She'll complete her sentence and then Joe will begin his.

Teresa made a plea to the judge to give her house arrest instead of time behind bars so she could care for her kids. Her husband Joe will spend 41 months behind bars, and she says their 4 kids will have to be split up among their relatives if they both serve.

But the judge said the sentences would be staggered, so when one is in prison, the other can perform parental duties.

Before sentencing ... Teresa begged the judge for leniency, saying she is in a deep depression and her life is now ruined. She says all she cares about is her kids and she has no interest anymore in TV shows.

She also said she didn't care about handbags ... a reference to the fact that she was photographed last month with a really expensive bag when she was monkeying around with bankruptcy.

The judge wasn't buying it, saying ... "I need to send a message. In the eyes of the law it doesn't matter who you are. There are consequences to pay."

1:55 PM PT -- Teresa's sentence was just announced.

1:15 PM PT -- The prosecutor has requested a 21-month sentence for Teresa. The judge has taken a short recess and they will be back shortly.

Joe Giudice has been sentenced to 41 months in a federal prison for wire and bankruptcy fraud -- but Teresa Giudice is still waiting to hear what her fate will be.

Joe must also pay $414,588.90 in restitution and enter an alcohol treatment program in prison.

Before handing down the sentence ... the judge chewed out Joe and Teresa for being dishonest with their finances -- pointing out the government had to dig up details they should have disclosed up front.

Both Joe and Teresa dissolved into tears as the judge tore into them.

The judge said ... if she sentences Teresa to prison, she will stagger the sentence so at least one parent will be free to care for their 4 daughters.

As we told you ... Teresa's game plan was to beg the judge for leniency -- she could get more than 20 months in prison.

Teresa Giudice will be sentenced Thursday morning ... and TMZ has learned she'll throw herself at the mercy of the court, telling the judge "Real Housewives of New Jersey" is phony and she's actually real nice.

Teresa has filed legal docs in which she argues for NO jail time. She says the judge should not be influenced by her role in "RHONJ" because "The image is little more than a carefully crafted fiction, engineered by Bravo TV through scripted lines and clever editing."

She also says she and Joe have 4 young daughters. Joe -- who will almost certainly be sentenced Thursday to prison -- is now also subject to deportation. Teresa says if she goes to prison, the girls will likely have to be split up because no one relative can take all 4.

And Teresa says ... she's more than happy to forfeit any ill-gotten money from the wire fraud if she gets to skate. She says she's willing to do community service and accept home detention.

And finally Teresa says she does a lot of charity work with sick kids and others, and she can be more useful in the community than behind bars.

Here's the problem. The sentencing guidelines provide for a prison sentence of somewhere between 21 and 27 months. She's gunning for mercy.

6:40 P.M. PDT -- Porsha tells TMZ ... she was "blindsided" by her demotion ... saying she's only capable of being herself because "portraying anything else, would not be genuine nor honest." And while she's happy to still have a role on the RHOA ... she'll focus on her career and a new love.

Porsha Williams was demoted to being a "friend" on the upcoming season of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" after filming had begun ... because producers once again got fed up with her behavior.

According to our sources, Bravo had intended Williams to be a main castmember this season ... even after her monumental fight with Kenya Moore.

But when filming began, we're told Bravo tried to get Williams and Moore to talk things out, but Williams nearly fought her again. Our sources say Williams also went after new castmember Claudia Jordan.

Temper issues aside, we're told Williams also kept the show at arm's length and wouldn't reveal certain details of her personal life ... leaving producers with no story to tell.

'RHONY' star Sonja Morgan hit a New York Fashion Week party where there was clearly an open bar ... ‘cause she was slurring like crazy when we ran into her outside.

The only person having a better time -- the dude with his tongue down her throat!

Apollo Nida -- who went AWOL Wednesday -- showed up at a federal prison in Kentucky overnight to begin serving his 8-year prison sentence ... after posting a video saying he's "about to go asunder."

Nida surrendered at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky ... where he was supposed to be on Wednesday morning.

Sonja Morgan was a drunken, slurry, kissy mess in NYC last night ... and best of all -- she did it all on camera.

The "Real Housewives of New York" star was leaving the VIP Room in NYC Wednesday night -- WASTED -- and desperately wanted to tell us how she was the life of the party. Problem is ... she was too wasted to get the words out cleanly.

Actually, that's not a problem -- it's awesome. Just watch.

Camille Grammer was barely recognizable as she walked the runway for Betsey Johnson Wednesday night during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Salon at Lincoln Center.

Apollo Nida is not a prisoner, so now he's a wanted man ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ reported Wednesday AM ... Nida was on his way to report for his 8-year prison sentence for money laundering and check fraud.

But apparently he got cold feet ... because we're told he pulled up to the home of his wife, "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Phaedra Parks and went nuts because Phaedra refused to put money in his prison account while he was locked up. She also refused to bring their kids to prison to visit him and that caused him to lose it.

We're told Nida forced his way inside and started screaming at Phaedra, "What the f*** is the matter with you," adding, "I don't give a f*** about the police, call them, I dare you."

An eyewitness tells TMZ ... he was demanding property and went inside the master bedroom and starting putting stuff in a big bag.

Fortunately for Bravo ... we're told RHOA cameras were rolling and got the whole thing.