'Survivor' Winner Arraigned on Tax Evasion

[Dback Jon]

Like he thought the IRS wouldn't notice he won the money......

Oddly Enough - Reuters


'Survivor' Winner Arraigned on Tax Evasion

Tue Jan 25, 1:48 PM ET Oddly Enough - Reuters



PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) - Richard Hatch, who rose to fame as the first winner of the "Survivor" TV series, was arraigned on charges of tax evasion on Tuesday for not declaring more than $1 million in earnings. He was released after surrendering his passport and paying a $50,000 bond.



Hatch, 43, a Rhode Island resident, was formally charged in federal court in Providence after prosecutors said he failed to declare the $1 million he earned for beating out all other contestants on the hit reality TV show in 2000.


Hatch, a corporate trainer and consultant, is also charged with failing to declare the $10,000 prize he earned for appearing on the series' final episode and more than $300,000 he earned the following year from radio appearances.


The charges against Hatch carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.


Hatch had no comment following the court appearance.


No date was set for the next hearing on the case.


Court documents filed earlier this month show that Hatch agreed to plead guilty to the charges, but the agreement is not binding and Hatch could still proceed to a trial.


The original "Survivor" series became a ratings sensation for CBS and helped spark a boom in reality-based shows.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Hatch deserves a ... but why did it take years for the IRS to figure out that he didn't file...??

 

[Brown_Blood]

Hatch deserves a ... but why did it take years for the IRS to figure out that he didn't file...??

They're twisted. If they got him right away, he'd actually be able to pay. Let him wait a while, think he's made it, and then nab him after the money's all gone. Gotcha!!!

 

[Ryanwb]

He should just renounce his citizenship and move to one of the islands they filmed Survivor on.... that'll learn 'em

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Lawyer: 'Survivor' Producers OK'd Taxes
January 20

Richard Hatch's lawyer said Friday that the "Survivor" winner caught his fellow reality-show contestants cheating, and when he told producers about it they struck a deal: They would pay the taxes on the million-dollar prize if Hatch won.

During a break in Hatch's testimony, his attorney, Michael Minns, told U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres of his plans to have the first-ever winner of "Survivor" testify about the alleged deal. Hatch had been on the stand earlier Friday defending himself against charges that he failed to pay taxes on his "Survivor" winnings. Hatch won the first season of the hit CBS show, which aired in 2000.

But while questioning Hatch in front of jurors later in the day, Minns never asked his client to discuss the allegations and wrapped up his questioning of Hatch on Friday afternoon without ever broaching the topic. Minns and Hatch would not comment after court about the allegations.

Prosecutors began questioning Hatch Friday afternoon, and planned to resume Monday.

Minns told the judge that Hatch caught some of his fellow contestants trying to have friends sneak food to them on the island.

That was against the rules, Minns said, and Hatch said Friday that he never ate any food on the show that he didn't catch or find himself, or win through a competition.

The show's executive producer, Mark Burnett, testified earlier in the trial, but neither the defense nor prosecutors asked him about any such deal.

A spokesman for Burnett said he would have no comment while the trial is in progress. A CBS spokesman said it would not comment on the issue.

Two of Hatch's first-season "Survivor" competitors said Friday they disagree completely with Hatch's assertion. "What friends could bring them food? There ain't no friends on the island," Rudy Boesch told the Internet site TMZ.com.

Dr. Sean Kenniff, noting that he lost 30 pounds during the season-one "Survivor," told TMZ he "never witnessed any cheating" by any contestants or production members.

Hatch is also accused of failing to pay taxes on hundreds of thousands of dollars of other income and using money donated to a charity on himself.

He faces a maximum sentence of 73 years in prison if convicted of all 10 charges he faces.

On Friday, Hatch spoke about how the behavioral problems of his son, Christopher, have weighed on him. Minns has said Hatch was distracted by problems with his son and was a terrible bookkeeper, but he never meant to commit tax fraud.

------------------------------------------------

Hatch =

 

[Brian in Mesa]

'Survivor' winner Hatch convicted of tax evasion
Wed Jan 25, 2006

By David Ortiz

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Reuters) -

Richard Hatch, the first champion of the hit reality television show "Survivor," was convicted of tax evasion on Wednesday and faces up to 13 years in prison.

The winner of the $1 million jackpot on "Survivor" on a South Pacific island in 2000 was handcuffed and taken into custody after U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres ruled that he was a potential flight risk.

Hatch, a motivational speaker, was convicted of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million winnings in 2000 and about $391,000 he earned from half a dozen other sources.

Hatch was acquitted on seven of 10 counts brought against him, including bank, mail and wire fraud charges. The 44-year-old Newport, Rhode Island, native faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison and a fine of $600,000.

Dressed in a casual black sweater and blue slacks, Hatch showed little expression as the jury announced its verdict. He will remain in custody until his April 28 sentencing.

"Richard has been going through this now for 3 years and he's prepared himself for this," his lawyer, John MacDonald, told reporters. "He's handling this very well.

"We are obviously disappointed," MacDonald said. "But we're very pleased as to the (acquittal of) fraud charges."

Hatch could have faced a maximum fine of $1.35 million and 73 years in prison if he had been convicted on all counts. MacDonald said he would appeal the decision.

Hatch, who frequently paraded around nude on the reality show, was viewed by some as a brash, manipulative schemer, but grudgingly admired by others for his savvy and determination to win. He and other contestants on the first "Survivor" helped launch reality shows as a TV phenomenon.

A grand jury investigation began in March when Hatch backed out of a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to two tax evasion charges that carried a maximum 10-year jail sentence and a $500,000 fine.

His lawyers had said CBS, which broadcast the show, should have withheld federal taxes because the network should have classified him as an employee under California law. He said the federal government also must shoulder some blame.

CBS has said Hatch was responsible for declaring his winnings and paying his taxes.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

`Survivor' Held in Protective Custody
Tuesday April 11, 2006

Jailed "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch is being held in protective custody apart from other inmates until his sentencing this month on tax evasion charges.

Hatch, who won $1 million in the debut season of the CBS reality series, was found guilty in January of failing to pay taxes on his winnings and other income. He was taken into custody immediately because U.S. District Court Judge Ernest Torres said he posed a flight risk.

Hatch, 45, asked to be put in protective custody shortly after he was detained, his attorney, Michael Minns, said Monday. Hatch is being held at a jail in Plymouth, Mass., until his sentencing April 25.

Charles Wyant, a supervisory deputy U.S. marshal, said Hatch was placed in protective custody because he's a celebrity. Any prisoner can make such a request.

"The situation he's in is the best possible position for him to be in at this point in time, the safest and most secure," Wyant said.

As a matter of policy, all prisoners spend their first three days at the jail in solitary confinement with one hour a day of recreation, Wyant said. After that, they are usually moved into the general population, but Hatch is being held separately, he said.

The charges carry a maximum of 13 years in prison. Torres said he expected a sentence of between two years, nine months and three years, five months, but it could be longer because prosecutors accuse Hatch of lying during his testimony.

 

[Jersey Girl]

When does winning a million dollars suck?

When it causes you to go to jail.

What a moron!

 

[Angel]

"Charles Wyant, a supervisory deputy U.S. marshal, said Hatch was placed in protective custody because he's a celebrity. Any prisoner can make such a request. "

A celebrity? Please.....I love Survivor but no one that has ever competed on the show is a "celebrity", infamous maybe. Hatch was a nut job on the island and it now appears that it wasn't an act.

 

[Russ Smith]

"Charles Wyant, a supervisory deputy U.S. marshal, said Hatch was placed in protective custody because he's a celebrity. Any prisoner can make such a request. "

A celebrity? Please.....I love Survivor but no one that has ever competed on the show is a "celebrity", infamous maybe. Hatch was a nut job on the island and it now appears that it wasn't an act.

His entire defense is he believed CBS was paying the taxes, that he believed the million dollars was "after tax" not before tax. How hard can it be there has to be some contract they sign that specifies that?

 

[Jersey Girl]

His entire defense is he believed CBS was paying the taxes, that he believed the million dollars was "after tax" not before tax. How hard can it be there has to be some contract they sign that specifies that?

Why didn't he just ask a lawyer or a financial planner? I know if I won lots of money I would consult a lawyer or financial planner.

 

[Russ Smith]

Why didn't he just ask a lawyer or a financial planner? I know if I won lots of money I would consult a lawyer or financial planner.

Well this has been going on for years I think so it's pretty clear he knew for awhile the money was pre tax not post. I think he just felt if he kept saying that, CBS would step in and pay the bill.

I saw something on the TV guide network where they were talking about past reality show people and their comment on Richard is he appears to either think CBS will step in and pay because it's good PR for them, or he's waiting for his own reality show from prison.

If I had to guess, I'd say he already spent the money and that's why he's not just stepped forward and paid.

 

[jenna2891]

If I had to guess, I'd say he already spent the money and that's why he's not just stepped forward and paid.

bingo.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Richard Hatch sentenced to 51 months

Ouch! Survive that, pal!

'Survivor' Winner Sentenced to 51 Months By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press Writer

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060516/ap_en_tv/survivor_taxes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Richard Hatch, who won $1 million in the debut season of "Survivor," was sentenced Tuesday to 51 months in prison for failing to pay income taxes on his reality TV prize and other earnings.

Hatch, 45, was convicted in January. The charges carried a maximum of 13 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres said he issued a harsher than expected sentence because Hatch had committed perjury repeatedly during his trial.

"It seems unfortunately very clear to me that Mr. Hatch lied," Torres said. When Hatch was convicted, Torres said he expected to sentence him to 33 to 41 months.

"I believe I've been completely truthful and completely forthcoming throughout the entire process," Hatch told the judge before he was sentenced.

Hatch claimed he thought the show's producers would pay his taxes and pleaded ignorance about money matters, saying he forgot to tell his accountants about some income.

"Survivor" earned CBS a ratings hit. Hatch became known as "the fat naked guy" — a term coined by David Letterman — for refusing to wear clothes for much of the show.

Hatch sowed seeds of conflict among his competitors, and an estimated 51 million viewers were watching when he received his winning check.

At times, he seemed to handle his criminal case like an extended reality TV competition. He abruptly walked away from a plea deal with prosecutors and pleaded his innocence to Katie Couric on the "Today" show.

 

[Ryanwb]

(Runs to refile last years taxes)

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Glad he got some time.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=46575

 

[Ryanwb]

Glad he got some time.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=46575

BIM, why didn't you just merge those threads together?

 

[Brian in Mesa]

BIM, why didn't you just merge those threads together?

I would if I could.