Founder of US reality show Dance Moms Abby Lee Miller has pleaded guilty to violating currency reporting laws and one charge of bankruptcy fraud after admitting she smuggled more than $10,000 in Australian currency into the US following a dance tour of the country in 2014, Fairfax reports.
“I have made the difficult decision to close the door on this chapter of my life by accepting responsibility for mistakes I have made along the way,” Miller said.
Hosting performances and meet-and-greet sessions as well as a dance class, Miller was charging up to $179 for aspiring dancers and $59 for supervising agents to attend her Sydney masterclass at Randwick Racecourse.
Following this, she was accused of trying to smuggle $US120,000 (AU$160,000) out of the country in her employees’ luggage, before striking a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to violating currency reporting laws and only one charge of bankruptcy fraud.
If she had been found guilty of the original charges it would have meant an extra $US250,000 fine and five years in jail, but as things stand prosecutors are now only seeking more than two years jail, with Miller’s lawyers pushing for a maximum of six months behind bars.
Set to be sentenced on October 11, the future of Dance Moms remains uncertain. However considering her legal troubles have already been featured on the first half of the show’s sixth season, this may just be the juicy drama the show needs to steam ahead into its seventh season. If she’s not in prison that is.
Despite that looming over her head, though, Miller remains positive, thanking those who’ve sent her messages of love and support in this trying time.
“I appreciate all the wonderful messages of support I’ve received from around the world and look forward to the future and getting back to my life’s work; helping young dancers fulfill their potential,” she said.
In the meantime, revisit the roller coaster of body rolls and deep feels that is Dance Moms via the clip below.
