'Dance Moms' star Abby Lee Miller pleads not guilty to federal bankruptcy fraud charges in Pittsburgh
"Dance Moms" star Abigale Lee Miller appeared Monday before a federal judge and pleaded not guilty to charges that she tried to hide $775,000 worth of income from the reality show and spinoff projects during her Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Asked for comment as she entered the federal courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh, Miller smiled and said, "I didn't have my hair done." She added, "Season 6 jackets are on sale on the website Wednesday."
Raw Video: Abby Lee arrives for court, pushes new 'Dance Moms' merchandise
Miller, formerly of Penn Hills, requested a jury trial. If convicted, she could face five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 -- or both -- for each count of the indictment.
After her original comments, Miller was asked whether she takes bankruptcy fraud charges seriously. She replied, "Yes."
Defense attorney Robert Ridge declined to comment on the specific allegations.
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The investigation began when a channel-surfing bankruptcy judge saw Miller on TV in December 2012 and figured she had to be making more than the $8,899 in monthly income she was claiming.
Miller, 50, was charged last month and mailed a summons to appear in federal court. She will remain free while her case proceeds.
According to the indictment, Miller is suspected of concealing income totaling more than $755,000 from the trustee and creditors, and ordered others to conceal certain income from the bankruptcy court.
Miller is the owner of the Abby Lee Dance Co. The dance studio on Saltsburg Road has been featured on "Dance Moms."
The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges that Miller hid a substantial amount of money that was earned on the reality TV series, and money earned on spinoff shows.
"This was an individual who had a home here, a home in Florida, four sole proprietorships and this going concern of a dance business who then was also not just in negotiations to have a reality TV show but had actually received income and was hiding that from the court," U.S. Attorney David Hickton said when the charges were announced in October.