NEED TO KNOW
More information has come to light following the arrest of The Real Housewives of Potomac star Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband, Eddie Osefo.
The couple was arrested and booked on fraud charges in Maryland, on Oct. 9. The Baltimore Banner reported on Nov. 20 that prosecutors involved in the case have requested additional financial records as they argued that the pair have “approximately 40 credit and/or debit cards, some of which are believed to be in company names” — and some are under the aliases “Pam Oliver” and “Eddie Hennessy.”
The prosecution claimed that the aliases and company names were a “deliberate attempt to mask their identity.”
The couple’s attorneys claimed that the prosecutors are on a “fishing expedition,” the outlet reported.
In court documents viewed by the Baltimore Banner, the prosecution wrote, “The State expects such documentation to show a pattern of excessive spending, supporting motive in this case. The State avers that insurance fraud is a financial crime, and in that, the amount of debt owed by the Osefos, jointly, individually and by the businesses that they own, is highly relevant to their motive.”
In response, Eddie’s attorney, Joseph Murtha, claimed that the prosecution is “looking for something they haven’t figured out after 18 months of investigating.”
The couple are next due in court on Dec. 2.
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
Hours after the news report was published, Wendy and Eddie shared a post featuring a joint statement from their legal team. “At the outset, Police failed to properly investigate the initial burglary despite clear indications of a break-in, displaying clear bias against the Osefo family,” the statement began.
“The Osefos heard nothing but silence from police for over 18 months despite complete cooperation and requests for updates. It is common knowledge that other Real Housewives cast members have also been victimized after documenting their travel on social media, yet none faced this level of scrutiny or criminal charges. We believe it is deeply unjust for the Sherrif’s Office and Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County to publicly expose confidential financial information about Eddie and Wendy Osefo. What is most disturbing is that the State appears to have begun investigating only after charging the Osefos, which is highlight irregular approach that raises serious concerns about motive and fairness. The public release of the family’s private financial details serves no lawful purpose and only invites conclusory opinions about a case the State is obviously still investigating.”
It concluded, “The Osefos have never used an alias on any financial application, this allegation is false and misleading. Such names were used for he delivery of packages, following their lawful purchase, to safeguard the identity of very public figures. It is ironic for the State to assert or exaggerate the existence of any purported debt in connection with this accomplished professional couple. Due process is paramount to the administration of justice, and its breach by misleading the public with a false narrative has only compounded the harm. The defense is confident the Court will prevent any further violation of the Osefos’ right to a fair trail.
On Oct. 17, Osefo’s attorneys filed a demand for discovery and inspection, among other documents. She and Eddie were first taken into custody on Oct. 10, as the Westminster Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that the pair were facing 16 charges, seven of which were felonies related to alleged “false/misleading info fraud” in excess of $300.
Per police, the couple claimed designer bags and jewelry were missing from their bedroom during a reported burglary while they were in Jamaica in April 2024, before Wendy was allegedly seen wearing one of the diamond rings on social media. An investigation determined that other items they said were stolen were purchased and returned to their respective stores and a “full refund was provided prior to the alleged burglary.”
Hours after the arrest, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed they were “back home safely with their family and in good spirits.”
“They are grateful for the outpouring of concern and support from friends, fans, and colleagues,” the representative wrote, adding that they “look forward to their day in court.”
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Wendy later resigned from her role as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Wesleyan University, while a rep for the star clarified that she was not fired, and instead “formally submitted her letter of resignation prior to any public announcement made by the university.”
On Oct. 19, the RHOP star spoke out on Instagram for the first time following her arrest. “And through it all, GOD remains faithful,” she captioned a photo of herself posing in a black-and-white gown.
“Thank you for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers for myself and most importantly my family during this time. We are forever grateful🙏🏾,” she concluded.
The Real Housewives of Potomac airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
