Teresa Giudice Officially Released from Prison

After spending nearly a year in prison, Teresa Giudice has officially left the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn. on December 23 at 5:01 AM, her lawyer confirmed to The Daily Dish. The Real Housewives of New Jersey mom entered the facility on January 5 in connection with the multiple counts of fraud she pleaded guilty to in 2014. "She's free," her lawyer said.

Teresa originally received a 15-month federal prison sentence, but will serve the remainder of that sentence through home confinement in her Montville Township, NJ home. Per the terms of her sentencing, Teresa will wear an electronic monitoring bracelet through February 5. 

Teresa is expected to spend Christmas Eve at her brother Joe Gorga's house in Montville, NJ. Before Teresa headed home, The Daily Dish spoke to Teresa's lawyer, James Leonard Jr., who revealed how excited she is to be reunited with her four daughters: Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana.

"It's been very, very difficult for her and her daughters, but they've communicated," Leonard Jr. said. "They've seen one another with visits and emails and phone calls. They've been able to Skype one another. She's been a daily presence in their lives. But, obviously, there's no substitute for actually not being there. So for her to come home and be reunited with them is something that both she and the girls are very much looking forward to."

UPDATE: Leonard Jr. confirmed that when he arrived at the facility Teresa was waiting for him with two guards and one of the first comments she made was, "I can't believe this is happening." Leonard Jr. was handed her belongings — including three boxes of fan mail. While driving on the highway making their way back to Teresa's home, they were followed by paparazzi while Teresa napped in the car.