'Dance Moms' star guilty of concealing assets, sneaking cash into the country

Abby Lee Miller of “Dance Moms” fame became a federal felon on Monday.

Ms. Miller, 50, who divides her time among homes in California, Florida and Penn Hills, pleaded guilty to concealing assets from her TV show from bankruptcy court and sneaking $120,000 into the U.S. in plastic Ziploc bags that members of her entourage tucked into their luggage after a dance trip to Australia.

Ms. Miller, whose legal name is Abigale Miller, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Terrence McVerry in front of a packed courtroom.

The judge set sentencing for Oct. 11, but the date will likely be moved pending the outcome of another bankruptcy fraud case involving a Westmoreland County man now before the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals that could affect Ms. Miller’s sentence.

The sentence will be determined largely by the amount of loss to her creditors. The government says that amount is between $250,000 and $550,000 and that her guideline range is 24 to 30 months in prison.

Ms. Miller’s lawyer, Robert Ridge, maintains that she has paid back all of her creditors.

“We believe the loss amount will be zero,” he said in court.

Under that scenario, his client could receive six months in prison or less.

Ms. Miller had no comment after the hearing, nor did Mr. Ridge, but they did provide a statement to media members clustered on Grant Street.

“This has been a challenging time for Ms. Miller,” Mr. Ridge read on the courthouse steps. “She appreciates the words of encouragement and support from around the world.”

Ms. Miller was indicted last year in Pittsburgh on charges of concealing assets from her TV shows.

The fraud was discovered when a U.S. bankruptcy judge in Pittsburgh who was channel surfing one night came across her national TV performances. He then realized she had more money that she was revealing in Chapter 11 filings.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said she tried to hide about $755,000 in income from her TV show as well as ticket sales from her “master class’’ instruction sessions and other programs.

In a separate case, prosecutors said she did not report money that she transferred from Australia into the U.S. after a 2014 trip there to conduct dance classes before large audiences. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Melucci said she and her instructors, along with others on the trip, brought back about $120,000 in cash tucked into plastic bags in amounts less than $10,000 and packed in their luggage.

When they got to the U.S., members of her entourage gave Ms. Miller the cash or squirreled it away in a drawer at her Penn Hills studio.

Ms. Miller remains free on bond until sentencing.