Richard Hatch, who the first $1 million winner on Survivor, was indicted Thursday for failing to pay taxes on his winnings from the CBS reality show.
Hatch, 44, faces 10 charges, including tax evasion, filing a false tax return, wire fraud, bank fraud and mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente tells the Associated Press.
Corrente and court papers also state that Hatch failed to pay taxes on his seven-figure Survivor purse or on $327,000 from a radio show appearance and $28,000 in rental-property income that he collected. The Newport, R.I., resident also allegedly used $36,500 in donations to his charity, Horizon Bound, to cover personal expenses.
Prosecutors charged Hatch with two counts of tax evasion in January. He agreed to plead guilty, but backed out of plea-bargain deal two months later, saying he was under the impression that CBS was responsible for paying the taxes on his prize.
The network reportedly said Hatch was well aware of his obligations to pay taxes on the money.
On Survivor, Hatch was notable for his Machiavellian-like ways – as well as for walking around naked. On his Late Show, host David Letterman constantly referred to Hatch as "the naked fat guy on Survivor."
Hatch faces a maximum of 75 years in prison if found guilty on all charges. He also could face millions of dollars in fines.
On Thursday, Hatch was on a plane headed for Houston to help hurricane victims at the Astrodome and could not be reached for comment, said Rod Mitchell, a spokesman for Hatch's lawyer, Michael Minns.
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