Teresa Giudice, from Bravo's "Real Housewives of New Jersey," appeared in a New Jersey courtroom on Thursday to face her sentencing after she and her husband, Joe, were convicted of bankruptcy fraud charges earlier in the year. Joe faces three and half years in prison and Teresa has been sentenced to 15 months.

Giudice, 42, filed documents asking for mercy from the court and to spare her from any jail time in exchange of home detention and community work, according to TMZ. Giudice asked the judge to also consider the fact that she has four daughters. If she and her husband go to prison, the four girls will have to be split up among relatives, for one cannot take custody of all four.

Part of her argument is that the persona shown on the popular reality TV show is not real.

"The image is little more than a carefully crafted fiction, engineered by Bravo TV through scripted lines and clever editing," say the documents.

However, the court was not lenient with her husband. According to ABC News, Joe Giudice was sentenced to three and half years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas expressed her displeasure after it was revealed the Giudices were not honest when listing their assests.

Prosecutors told the court the Giudices did not list cars, ATVs, and jewelry in their pre-sentencing list of assets and Judge Salas decided to not be lenient. Teresa's sentencing was slated for Thursday.

Teresa could have done a maximum sentence of 27 months, according to Radar Online. Sources close to the couple told Radar that, if Teresa were sentenced to prison time, she would serve it after Joe is released.

"But in the worst-case scenario, that Teresa and Joe have to serve at the same time, her parents will become the temporary guardians of the girls," said the source.

However, NorthJersey.com reports that Teresa Giudice has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. 

According to NJ.com, Joe, who was born in Italy as Giuseppe Giudice, attempted to spare his wife jail time by placing all the blame on himself. Whether Salas will take this into consideration remains to be seen.

"Joe acknowledged what he had done, and he did this to help his wife in the best possible way because she has received the most favorable plea agreement that she in fact could get," said Miles Feinstein, the couple's attorney.

However, veteran defense attorneys explain married couples are equally culpable in these matters for they sign documents like mortgages and taxes together. Although Salas could consider the extent of Teresa's involvement.

Joe Giudice could face deportation after his sentence.