Apollo Nida reports to prison while Phaedra Parks looks to Jesus
Apollo Nida, husband of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Phaedra Parks, reported to federal prison today – one day after his scheduled deadline.
Nida was supposed to self-report on September 10 to begin serving an eight-year prison sentence for mail, bank, and wire fraud, but was a no-show. Prison officials in Lexington, Kentucky confirmed that Nida turned himself in on Thursday.
The 35-year-old landed prison time after filing documents as if he had a debt collection agency in order to access names, addresses, birthdates, social security numbers, and other personally identifiable information. He used that information to claim government refunds, file fraudulent tax returns, open bank accounts, and cash checks that did not belong to him.
His partner in crime, Gayla St Julien, turned him in after she was apprehended in September 2013. For her cooperation, she received five years in prison.
Nida also received loans for cars that didn't exist after he created a fake dealership.
Instead of turning himself in on Wednesday, Nida went to the home he formerly shared with Parks and allegedly caused a scene.
According to TMZ, Nida was upset that Parks refuses to put money in his prison account and did not bring their children to see their father while he is incarcerated. Allegedly, he screamed expletives, dared her to call the police, and demanded belongings before packing some items and leaving the home.
Parks' publicist, Steve Honig, would not confirm the report, but told CNN that "there was an incident" on Wednesday at around 4 p.m. Neither Parks nor Nida have commented on the incident.
Nida sent his last tweet on Thursday at 3:30 a.m., confirming his prison arrival.
"I would like to say thanks 4 everyone's support & thanks 4 holding me in prayer I've arrived 2 my destination and I'm going asunder," he wrote.
Parks has also been sharing religious messages with her social media followers.
On Sunday, she wrote, "If I could only touch the hem of his garmet #waitonHIM #bestill&know," on Instagram and Twitter. She included a photo of a man holding a cell phone with a troubled look on his face, and the caption: "When Jesus is on the main line, and you're waiting your turn to tell Him what you want."
Parks and Nida were married in 2009, and have two children together, Aydan, 4, and Dylan, 1.