The Real Housewives of Potomac star Wendy Osefo and husband Eddie Osefo have been arrested for fraud, Us Weekly confirmed.
A grand jury indicted Wendy, 41, on insurance fraud, conspiracy insurance fraud and false statement to police officer on Thursday, October 9, according to court documents obtained by Us.
Eddie, 41, and Wendy were booked in Westminster, Maryland, on Thursday, according to court records. The couple was released on Friday, October 10, after posting $50,000 bond each, a rep for the Carroll County Detention Center confirmed to Us.
“Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband, Edward Osefo, are back home safely with their family and in good spirits,” a rep for the couple told Us in a statement. “They are grateful for the outpouring of concern and support from friends, fans, and colleagues. The Osefos, alongside their legal team, look forward to their day in court. At this time, they respectfully ask for privacy as they focus on their family and the legal process ahead.”
TMZ was the first to report the news.
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The couple’s arrests came after the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a reported burglary at their home in April 2024, according to the docs. Wendy and Eddie claimed that they had gone on a trip to Jamaica and came back to find their bedroom and closets ransacked, as well as several designer handbags and jewelry stolen.
“There was a screen with damage laying on the roof, and the window was not locked. To go in or out of that window, one has to step on the toilet. The toilet lid was down and had no debris on it. When Sheriff’s office personnel stepped onto the roof and back into the home, they tracked roof ‘grit’ back inside,” the docs read.
The docs continue, “The Osefos had an ADT system and a ring camera. The Osefos activated the ADT alarm system upon leaving for vacation. During the time they were away, there was no motion detected inside the residence. There was activity, such as package deliveries, on the ring camera that was monitored remotely by the Osefos.”
Eddie gave statements to two insurance companies regarding a list of stolen items.
“He was asked whether any of the items on the list had been returned, which he denied. He was asked if he had other insurance but failed to disclose to Homesite and Jewelers that he was also making a claim with Travelers Insurance.”
Eddie and Wendy both signed statements claiming $2,500 for the building and $450,000 in property.
In his original claim submitted to Travelers on April 8, 2024, Eddie stated that he and his wife were wearing their anniversary bands when the loss occurred. However, Eddie called Travelers two days later and said he needed to update their claim because his wife’s gold diamond anniversary band was missing.
That same day, Travelers Insurance settled the claim for $25,380, which included the replacement price of the band ($4,500).
After their initial claim in April 2024, both Wendy and Eddie signed and submitted letters to Jewelers Mutual Insurance claiming that the burglary occurred and items were reported stolen. They provided the insurance company with an initial list of 57 stolen items, including Wendy’s gold diamond anniversary band that had been reported stolen in the Travelers claim.
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On April 22, 2024, Eddie was interviewed and did not make any mention of the jewelry claim or payout with Travelers.
Deputies were suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the burglary, as well as records from stores where some of the allegedly stolen items were purchased and the couple’s social media and email accounts.
An investigation determined that numerous items that the Osefos claimed were stolen had been purchased and then returned to the store, where a full refund was provided prior to the alleged burglary. These items were valued in excess of $20,000.
A Dior shirt was listed as a stolen item valued at $1,450, but the shirt had returned on January 14, 2023, for a refund. A Gucci leather wallet was purchased in 2018 and returned two weeks later for a refund of $948.70.
Additionally, while reviewing Wendy’s Instagram account, deputies observed photos of the reality star prior to the burglary wearing a diamond anniversary band on her left finger. This ring was reported stolen in the burglary. After the reported burglary, on April 27, 2024, Wendy was seen wearing the same ring on her left finger.
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Email records obtained by deputies showed that on April 12, 2024, Eddie emailed the list of reportedly stolen items to Wendy. The email asked if there were “additional high-value items we can add to this inventory listing (i.e., Chanel shoes, etc.)? I’m trying to get the total to exceed $423,000 which is our policy maximum.”
At the time of their arrest, a search and seizure warrant was executed for Wendy and Eddie’s home. Deputies found at least 15 items that appear to be the same ones they claimed to be stolen during the alleged burglary.
The investigation found that the Osefos were “burdened by substantial debt.”
Wendy has been a cast member on RHOP since season 5 in 2020.
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“I know some of the ladies. We run in similar social circles, and I sit on some of the same nonprofit boards,” the political commentator told The Washington Post of her casting in August 2020. “Since that was the case, it was a very organic relationship, and I was approached to do the show.”
Wendy’s arrest comes shortly after her RHOP costar Karen Huger was released from prison in September following her 2024 DUI arrest. Huger, 62, had initially been sentenced to two years in prison with one year suspended, meaning she would serve one year behind bars, but she was released after serving just over six months.
Wendy reacted to Huger’s sentence in an exclusive interview with Us in February.
“I was definitely shocked, but I’m just keeping her in my prayers because I’m sure it’s a very difficult time for her,” she told Us.
