'Dance Moms' Star Abby Lee Miller Charged With Fraud; Will The Reality Star Face Prison Time?

It looks like there’s trouble ahead for everyone’s favorite “Dance Moms” instructor. Abby Lee Miller has reportedly been charged with some very serious fraud crimes that could earn her an extended stay in prison.

According to The Wrap, the Lifetime reality TV star was allegedly hiding $775,000 worth of income from her popular series and its subsequent spinoffs. Despite the money, she filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010. Now, according to an indictment handed down by U.S. Attorney David Hickton in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (where Miller original filed a petition to reorganize her dance studio), she is charged specifically with bankruptcy fraud, concealment of bankruptcy assets and false bankruptcy declarations.

To put it simply, Miller is accused of creating bank accounts in order to conceal the income she earned while working as a TV personality on Lifetime’s “Dance Moms.” The series features her instructing young dancers in the competitive competition circuit. Inevitably, the show often involves arguments between Miller and the girls’ parents.

TMZ originally broke the story that the 49-year-old had finally broken free from her debt in 2014. She filed after her Pittsburgh dance studio was on the brink of foreclosure, but the new indictment charges could mean that she was faking the lack of income the entire time. As a result, she was given favorable terms to restructure her business and her debts. In fact, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the only reason that Miller was caught in the first place is because her bankruptcy judge happened to see her face while he was channel surfing on TV one day. Once the investigation began, her alleged deception was quickly uncovered by the authorities.

According to the indictment, the law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both for each count that Miller has been brought up on. It’s unclear at this time if the Lifetime star is claiming innocence in the matter as she has yet to release a statement. Meanwhile, “Dance Moms” fans are eagerly awaiting the premiere date for Season 6 of the series.