Dance Moms star sentenced over fraud

Abby Lee Miller, star of US reality series Dance Moms, has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison for bankruptcy fraud and concealing money earned abroad.

Miller, 50, was also sentenced to two years of probation following her release from prison and ordered to pay a US$40,000 fine.

Miller pleaded guilty to concealing approximately US$755,000 in income she had earned in 2012 and 2013 after filing for bankruptcy in 2010 to reorganise her Abby Lee Dance Company business. Her company exited bankruptcy in 2013.

The reality TV star was also ordered by the judge to forfeit US$120,000, the amount of money which prosecutors said Miller had transported in foreign currency from overseas locations, including England and Australia in 2014, without disclosing on arrival.

Miller had toured Australia in 2014 conducting workshops and filming and returned in 2015 for appearances and the ASTRA Awards.

Miller wrote in a March post on Instagram that she would be leaving Dance Moms after seven seasons, claiming she was refused creative credit for her dance routines and ideas.

Source: Reuters