Money and fame seem to buy more than just luxury... Join us as we examine shocking cases where celebrity status appeared to influence justice. From domestic violence to vehicular manslaughter, these high-profile individuals received surprisingly lenient sentences for their serious crimes.
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00:00Everybody's entitled to their own opinion. You know, when it's all said and done, only God can
00:04judge me. Welcome to Ms. Mojo. And today, we'll be looking at the most egregious cases where
00:09high-profile individuals were convicted or pleaded guilty to serious crimes, yet walked
00:15away with a little more than a slap on the wrist. In a 10-minute trial, he was charged with a
00:20misdemeanor, leaving the scene of an accident. Todd and Julie Chrisley. The Chrisleys shot to
00:26fame on USA Network's Chrisley Knows Best, which showcased their lavish lifestyle as real estate
00:33moguls. But that glamorous image unraveled in 2019 when Todd and Julie were indicted for tax evasion
00:50and bank fraud. Prosecutors alleged they defrauded banks out of $36 million in loans,
00:56while also dodging about $500,000 in back taxes. They did so by submitting false bank statements,
01:04false audit reports, and false personal financial statements. They also used fraudulently obtained
01:12loans to repay old ones. Consequently, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to seven.
01:21After an appeals court upheld their convictions, the tides turned in their favor with
01:26Donald Trump's re-election. Their lawyers rebranded them as prominent conservatives targeted in a
01:32political witch hunt, despite their original indictment occurring during Trump's first term.
01:38Nevertheless, the strategy worked. In May 2025, Trump granted them a full presidential pardon.
01:44Your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. Is that okay? We'll try getting it done tomorrow. So give them, I don't know them, but give them my regards.
01:55Felicity Huffman. In 2019, a nationwide college admissions scandal erupted, which saw dozens of parents being arrested for trying to bribe their children's way into elite American universities.
02:08One of those parents was Felicity Huffman's federal charges in Operation Varsity Blues, accused of conspiring to use bribery and fraud to get their kids into top colleges.
02:19The middleman, a self-styled college counselor named Rick Singer.
02:23Best known for her role in Desperate Housewives, Huffman became desperate indeed when she reportedly paid $15,000 to someone to take the SAT on her daughter's behalf.
02:33She was arrested and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud.
02:40The judge made it clear that she wants to send a message that just because you've got money and you've got privilege, it doesn't mean that you can get away with something like this.
02:52Despite the severity of the charges, Huffman's sentence was relatively light.
02:56A $30,000 fine, 250 hours of community service, and just 10 days served out of a 14-day jail term.
03:06By comparison, many other parents who pleaded guilty received longer prison sentences and significantly higher fines.
03:13And I know hindsight is 20-20, but it felt like I would be a bad mother if I didn't do it.
03:22So, I did it.
03:24Victor Salva.
03:25You've probably seen 2001's Jeepers Creepers, but did you know its writer-director, Victor Salva, is a convicted sex offender?
03:34Back in 1988, Salva was found guilty of sexual misconduct with child actor Nathan Forrest Winters, the star of his feature-length directorial debut Clown House.
03:44I don't like about clowns.
03:47Their faces are fake.
03:49Big happy eyes.
03:51Big pain of smiles.
03:53It's not real.
03:54Disturbingly, at least one of the assaults was videotaped by Salva himself.
03:59For a crime this serious, most people would be thrown behind bars for many years.
04:04But Salva was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he only served 15 months.
04:09His grooming process was developing my love and trust, and developing my parents' trust.
04:14And so, essentially, he became a close friend in the family, and then that turned into where it was just like everything for him was sexual.
04:20Since then, he has continued to work in the film industry, supported by heavyweights like Francis Ford Coppola, who reportedly told him that prison would enhance his artistic vision.
04:30Judging by Jeepers Creepers 2, we strongly disagree.
04:34Rick James
04:46Assault with a deadly weapon, torture, false imprisonment, kidnapping.
05:01Yes, these were just some of the serious charges brought against 80s funk superstar Rick James.
05:07In 1991, James and his girlfriend were arrested for holding a woman captive for up to six days and coercing her into sexual acts.
05:16According to Alan, when it came time for James to pay up for the drugs, he refused.
05:21Wouldn't allow her to leave, then beat her up and broke her arm.
05:25If convicted on all counts, James faced a potential life sentence, but it got even worse.
05:31While out on bail, the couple struck again, kidnapping another woman and subjecting her to a 20-hour ordeal.
05:39Surely this was a one-way ticket to prison for a long, long time, right?
05:44Well, James was found guilty on most counts, but he was sentenced to just five years in prison, and walked free after serving a little over two.
05:52There was one guy back there, he'll never get out, we got this bar right now, you know, and they were mad at me anyway, I think I...
05:59But you really didn't do anything?
06:01No, I didn't do anything, I didn't do anything at all.
06:03Rebecca Gayhart
06:04I wish I had friends that would do this for me.
06:06Yeah, right.
06:07You'd have a kill!
06:08Totally maimed, my dear.
06:09After nearly a decade as a professional actress, Rebecca Gayhart's career was gaining momentum when she was involved in a tragic car accident in 2001.
06:18While driving on a street in Los Angeles, Gayhart struck Jorge Cruz Jr., who had to run into the street chasing a soccer ball.
06:26The boy sustained severe injuries and died the following day.
06:30Although it was an unfortunate accident, it still resulted in the loss of a life, which carried serious legal consequences.
06:37I'm not scared of you anymore, Courtney.
06:39We saw you.
06:40We all know you did it.
06:42No one will ever believe you.
06:43Gayhart ultimately pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter.
06:48She received a sentence of three years probation, 750 hours of community service, and a one-year license suspension, but served no jail time.
06:57In addition, she covered Cruz's funeral expenses and settled a wrongful death lawsuit with his family.
07:04Everyone deserves a second chance, sometimes a third, fourth chance.
07:07We all need help being the best we can be, our best self.
07:10Floyd Mayweather Jr.
07:12As one of boxing's most celebrated champions, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has made a fortune using his fists, but he's seemingly unable to differentiate between his opponents and the women in his life.
07:23Since 2002, Mayweather has racked up multiple convictions for domestic violence and battery, and surprisingly, the legal system has repeatedly bent to accommodate him.
07:34In 2010, it was reported that Mayweather physically assaulted his former girlfriend, leaving her with bruises and a concussion.
07:41Once again, no pictures, just hearsay and allegations, and I signed a plea bargain, so once again, not true.
07:50For this, he received a mere 90-day jail sentence, but the court delayed his reporting date so he wouldn't miss a boxing match.
07:57In the end, he served only two months.
08:00Apparently, the jail, food, and water didn't meet Mayweather's nutritional standards, so a judge just let him go.
08:07Freedom is very important.
08:09Freedom is very, very important.
08:11And I'm just, you know, I'm happy to be free.
08:13I'm happy to be back, you know, in my children's life.
08:17Don King.
08:18This controversial boxing promoter was involved in not one, but two separate killings, both of which he managed to evade serious consequences for.
08:26I done been threatened to death of nine, ten times, shot, bombed, stabbed, blowed up in my house with bombs, and I'm still here talking to Matt Fry.
08:36The first occurred in 1954, when King fatally shot a man attempting to rob one of his gambling houses.
08:43The incident was ruled a justifiable homicide, so he was spared jail time.
08:47Then, in 1966, King beat an employee to death over a $600 debt.
08:53There is no secrets in this game.
08:54That's number one.
08:56And everybody is out there talking to me because expeditives going back, accusations, allegations.
09:00You know what I mean?
09:00And I said, no, man, I ain't no do nothing to you.
09:02He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to one to 20 years imprisonment.
09:08However, he ended up serving just under four years after his conviction was reduced to manslaughter.
09:12Remarkably, in 1983, King received a full pardon from Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes,
09:19thanks in part to support letters from prominent figures like Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King.
09:25When I come out of the penitentiary, usually people run from those who are ex-felons,
09:29but the community was there waiting for me at the gate and encouraging me to go out and fight the good fight.
09:36Ted Kennedy
09:37Apparently, being a member of one of America's most prominent families means that a deadly car crash can magically turn into a minor inconvenience.
09:45In July 1969, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy left a party with Mary Jo Kopechny, a former campaign aide,
09:53when his car veered off a bridge and into a pond.
09:56It led across a bridge to a beach where Kennedy had gone swimming earlier that day.
10:01While crossing the bridge, the senator's car jumped the curb, hit the water, and sank.
10:07Kennedy managed to swim to safety, but claimed he was unable to rescue Kopechny.
10:12Instead of calling for help, he returned home and had a good night's rest.
10:16Around 9.30 a.m., some 10 hours after the accident, the senator got off the ferry,
10:22hurrying past a photographer, and walked into the police station.
10:25Backed by his influential family, Kennedy landed a dream legal team that helped him plead guilty
10:31to merely leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily injury.
10:35He received a two-month suspended jail sentence and carried on as a senator until his death in 2009.
10:42I felt morally obligated to plead guilty to the charge of leaving the scene of an accident.
10:47No words on my part can possibly express the terrible pain and suffering I feel over this tragic incident.
10:59Vince Neil
11:00Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil played a major role in derailing the rising career of Finnish hard rock band Hanoi Rocks.
11:07In 1984, while the band was on its first U.S. tour, Neil invited them to his home, where they spent hours partying.
11:15Motley Crue! You all alright?
11:19Razzle, Hanoi Rocks.
11:21What's up?
11:21We're touring the States for the first time, mate.
11:24Alright, sit down, join us.
11:25When the alcohol ran out, Neil and Hanoi Rocks drummer, Nicholas Razzle Dingley, drove to a liquor store to buy more.
11:33However, on the way back, a drunk Neil lost control and crashed into another vehicle, killing Dingley.
11:40Where are we?
11:42Where's Christmas?
11:47Look at all the lights.
11:49The occupants of the other car suffered lasting brain damage, while Neil escaped unhurt.
11:54He was charged with DUI and vehicular manslaughter, receiving a 30-day jail sentence and 5 years probation.
12:01Ultimately, he served just 15 days before being released for good behavior.
12:06And you just try to learn from those mistakes and better your life.
12:10Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.
12:12You know, but it's, um, you kind of try your best.
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12:31Matthew Broderick.
12:33To fix the situation, I'm gonna have to ask you for a small favor.
12:37Just one year after his breakout role in the 1986 film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off,
12:42Matthew Broderick became embroiled in a tragic controversy far away from Hollywood.
12:48While vacationing in Ireland with his co-star and girlfriend, Jennifer Grey,
12:52Broderick mistakenly drove into the wrong lane and collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle.
12:57The crash instantly killed the passengers in the other car,
13:00mother and daughter, Margaret Doherty, and Anna Gallagher.
13:04I was in shock because I was the only living witness,
13:08and Matthew was unconscious and had amnesia, and the other two women died.
13:12Broderick initially faced the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving,
13:17which carried a potential five-year prison sentence.
13:20But surprisingly, he was convicted of the lesser offense of careless driving
13:24and fined just $175, a decision the victim's family condemned as a, quote,
13:31travesty of justice.
13:33There's something about near-death experience and being that close to death,
13:38and that curtain just goes up, and just somehow I slipped through.
13:42What do you make of these celebrity cases?
13:44Is justice really blind, or is she just a little starstruck?
13:48Share your thoughts in the comments below.
13:50I literally turned to the, one of the FBI people in a flak jacket and a gun,
13:54and I went, is this a, is this a joke?
13:57Is this a joke?