Apollo Nida Given 8 Yrs For Fraud; Wife, Phaedra Parks, A No Show At Sentencing

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” fans all over have been patiently waiting the verdict of Apollo Nida sentence. Well, Judge Charles Pannell issued Nida a 96-month sentence for his involvement in a high-stakes bank fraud scheme.

According to the AJC:

Nida, dressed in a tan suit and wearing a beard and mustache thicker than seen on the television show, questioned the slightly harsher 96-month sentence to the judge and appeared annoyed after the hearing. “The government did what they had to do,” Nida said before entering the elevator the downtown federal courthouse. When asked if he was unhappy about the sentence, he said, “Whatever the judge gave.”

“Today’s sentencing exemplifies impartial justice regardless of economic class or perceived celebrity status.  Nida’s sentence should be an eye opener for other like-minded criminals who scheme to steal victims’ identities, defraud them and ignore the consequences of their actions,” said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office, in a press release.

Nida’s attorney Thomas Bever attempted to get the sentence reduced due in part to Nida’s poor upbringing but Pannell felt that was not a big enough factor given Nida’s age (35).

RHOA co-star and wife, Phaedra Parks, did not attend Nida’s sentencing. However, the judge showed a bit of compassion for their two young sons by recommending that Nida be placed in a facility close to Atlanta.

Apolla Nida was ultimately outed by his partner-in-crime St. Julien. With her confession along with a wire-tap, the prosecution was able to find Nida point him as the head of the operation. Nida was later charged with bank, mail, and wire fraud.  The elaborate scheme lasted over 4 years, affected an estimated 50 people, and generated $2 million.

Nida is currently out on bond, but is expected to begin serving his time in the next month or two.