Savannah Chrisley’s husband, Jason Galanis, is challenging a court ruling that denied his request to recover $2.17 million seized by the federal government and intended to compensate victims of his fraud schemes. Galanis, 56, has appealed the decision, with a federal appeals court scheduled to hear the matter on November 13.According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Galanis wants the government to return the money recovered from the sale of properties in Los Angeles and Manhattan. The funds were transferred to the Southern District of New York court clerk in January 2025 for distribution among victims of his crimes.However, the money had not been distributed when President Donald Trump commuted Galanis’ prison sentence on March 28, 2025. Following the decision, Galanis argued that the government no longer had a reason to retain the confiscated funds or distribute them to victims.
Why Jason Galanis wants the seized money returned
In an October 2025 court filing, Galanis’ lawyers argued that the government had “no legitimate interest in retaining the funds” and that the money “must be returned” to their client. They also maintained that there was no recognised reason to hand the funds to anyone else.His legal team further claimed that the properties from which the money was recovered had been purchased before the tribal bond fraud scheme and that the funds were not proceeds of criminal activity.Federal prosecutors disagreed, arguing that the money had become government property well before Trump’s decision to commute Galanis’ sentence. They maintained that the commutation did not require the government to return assets that had already been confiscated.In June 2025, US District Judge P. Kevin Castel rejected Galanis’ request, prompting the appeal. It is not yet clear whether the $2.17 million has since been distributed to the victims.
Galanis paid less than $2,000 towards $80 million restitution
The legal dispute also brings attention to the amount Galanis was ordered to repay following his conviction. He had been directed to pay approximately $80.46 million in restitution for his role in two major fraud schemes.However, a March 2026 court filing cited by Page Six revealed that Galanis had personally paid only $1,824.84 towards the restitution while in prison. Court records showed that his total payments amounted to approximately $2,524.84, including a mandatory $700 court assessment.The $2.17 million under dispute was recovered from the sale of properties in Los Angeles and Manhattan. After liens and other expenses were accounted for, the remaining funds were transferred to the court clerk in January 2025.
What were the fraud schemes Jason Galanis was convicted for?
Galanis was convicted in connection with two separate fraud schemes that prosecutors said caused approximately $80 million in losses.Between 2009 and 2011, he allegedly helped manipulate the stock of Gerova Financial Group, allowing him and his associates to secretly profit from millions of dollars in stock sales while investors suffered losses.His second scheme took place between 2014 and 2016 and involved a Native American tribal entity that was persuaded to issue more than $60 million in bonds. The funds were supposed to be invested as promised, but prosecutors said Galanis and his associates diverted millions towards personal and business expenses.According to prosecutors, around $8.75 million was used for expenses including his home, clothing, jewellery, cars and restaurant bills.Galanis pleaded guilty to seven federal felony counts in January 2020 and was sentenced to 189 months in prison in September that year. Trump commuted his sentence on March 28, 2025, ending his remaining prison term and eliminating his obligation to make further restitution payments.
Savannah Chrisley and Jason Galanis’ relationship
The legal controversy comes as Galanis’ relationship with Savannah Chrisley remains in the spotlight. The Chrisley Knows Best star and Galanis reportedly married in a private ceremony on July 14 at a Baptist church in the Cayman Islands.The couple kept their wedding under wraps for months before publicly announcing their engagement and pregnancy. They are now expecting their first child together.Galanis has also moved into Savannah’s $2.2 million Nashville home. His latest legal appeal has brought renewed attention to his past convictions and the ongoing dispute over the money that was originally intended for victims of his fraud schemes.
