Wendy Osefo and Eddie Osefo Arrested
Wendy Osefo, 41, and husband Eddie Osefo, 41, were arrested Oct. 9 at their home in Finksburg, Md., after being indicted on fraud charges.
What are the charges against Wendy Osefo and Eddie Osefo?
The couple were charged with giving false information in excess of $300 (Wendy is facing seven felony counts, while Eddie is looking at nine), plus eight misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to give false information in excess of $300, as well as a misdemeanor count of making a false statement to an officer.
Per court records, they were released from custody Oct. 10 after each posted a $50,000 bond. Carroll County State's Attorney Haven Shoemaker told reporters that the next hearing in the case is "tentatively scheduled" for Nov. 7.
Wendy Osefo, Eddie Osefo Break Silence on Their Arrest
Wendy and Eddie have not yet entered a plea but they acknowledged the charges after their release from custody.
“Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband, Edward Osefo, are back home safely with their family and in good spirits,” Wendy's rep said in an Oct. 10 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.”
What are Wendy Osefo and Eddie Osefo accused of doing?
Authorities allege that the Osefos falsely reported to police and insurers that $450,000 worth of property was stolen from their home sometime between April 2 and April 7, 2024, while they were on vacation in Jamaica.
Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees said during an Oct. 10 press conference that detectives eventually concluded that Wendy and Eddie "fabricated" the burglary and filed a false report to defraud their insurance company.
Investigators were "a little suspicious" when they first responded to the couple's home, DeWees said, noting that deputies found no signs of forced entry or physical evidence of an intruder. They still investigated the case as a burglary, the sheriff continued, but, weeks after the alleged incident, detectives saw photos Wendy had posted on social media in which she was "wearing jewelry that matched items she had reported stolen, specifically a diamond anniversary band."
The couple provided receipts for the allegedly stolen items, but, according to the sheriff, more than $20,000 worth of those items had previously been returned to their place of purchase.
Emails between Wendy and Eddie also provided evidence of fraud, the sheriff alleged, including a message reading, "Are there additional high-value items we can add to this inventory list? I'm trying to get the total to exceed $423,000, which is our policy maximum."
When deputies searched the Osefos' house on the day they were arrested, they found another 15 items that had been reported stolen, according to DeWees.
Andy Cohen Speaks Out After Wendy Osefo's Arrest
Andy Cohen knows the drill when members of the Real Housewives family have legal issues.
The franchise executive producer said Oct. 13 on SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live that, having just learned of the charges against Wendy and Eddie, there wasn't much he could say—but he felt for their family.
"I’m really sad about this," Andy said. "I’m a Wendy fan and she has been a great Housewife and a great role model. She’s always led with education and her solid family values, and so I’m really thinking about her and her family and I’m certainly hoping that this is all some big nothing."
What Wendy Osefo's Real Housewives of Potomac Costars Have Said About Her Arrest
Fellow Housewife Ashley Darby appeared to make a little joke at Wendy's expense during an Oct. 10 performance at Mr. Henry's in Washington D.C.
"We’re making melodies, not felonies, if you know what I mean," the singer quipped onstage, as seen in footage captured by an audience member. “I’m just throwing it out there. In case there’s any confusion, that’s what we’re doing around here. That’s all I’m doing here. Just making melodies.”
She added, per Page Six, "This ain’t news to us. This just news to y’all. Zen Wen is in the pen." (Wendy introduced her Zen Wen alter ego in 2021.)
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