Richard Hatch, will he 'Survive' Jail?

Tax evader, Survivor winner, dumbass

Published on January 25, 2006 By JillUser In Current Events

Richard Hatch, the winner of the first Survivor show, was found guilty of not paying the taxes on his $1million winning and also of evading taxes on money he made hosting a radio show. He claims that he had made a deal with the producers of Survivor that they would pay the taxes on his winnings provided he win due to the fact that he caught other contestants cheating.

Let's see here, you trust a verbal agreement regarding taxes on $1million dollars. Didn't get that in writing? Dumbass! I just don't see them seriously agreeing to that. It was probably more like "Yeah Richard, sure, we'll pay the taxes if you win" (said with extreme sarcasm).

Maybe he thought his "celebrity" would save him from being prosecuted. Maybe he is just so arrogant that he figures laws don't apply to him. Let's hope Survivor prepared him for prison life because it looks like he might be serving 13 yrs.

Comments (Page 1)

Draginol

on Jan 26, 2006

Heh. I suspect he'd take well to prison.

"Oh, dear me, I dropped the soap again!"

kingbee

on Jan 26, 2006

if only hatch had known the subject of this story which appeared august 10, 2005 in the local paper (daily breeze), they mighta both avoided jail.

A Lomita man was arraigned Monday on federal charges of filing a false tax return that allowed him to fraudulently collect a $3 million refund.

James Michael Jerra, 46, who is also known as James Michael Porter, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to three counts.

An indictment issued in April alleges that Jerra filed two false 2002 employment tax returns and one personal income tax return that both reflect nearly $1 billion in wages and compensation paid to him by a company called Jandel Corp.

The returns also falsely claim that nearly $3.9 million of that was withheld and paid to the IRS, causing the IRS to issue him a $3 million refund.

Jandel did not pay him any compensation in 2002 or withhold any income taxes, according to the indictment. He was arrested in Las Vegas on July 25. A Sept. 27 trial date in Los Angeles was set.

If convicted, Jerra faces a maximum of nine years in prison and a $750,000 fine, according to the IRS.

Moderateman

on Jan 26, 2006

I wonder if he will walk around naked on his birthday like he did on suvivor?

heh heh heh.

Dr Guy

on Jan 26, 2006

A Lomita man was arraigned Monday on federal charges of filing a false tax return that allowed him to fraudulently collect a $3 million refund.

I like these better:

http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=105789,00.html

On October 23, 2003, in Richmond, VA, Robert Lee Foster and Crystal Demetria Foster were sentenced after being convicted in July 2003 of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to claims and of filing false, fictitious and fraudulent claims. Robert Foster was sentenced to 13 years in prison and Crystal Foster was sentenced to three years and one months in prison. Beginning in July 2001, Robert Foster assisted numerous persons, including Crystal Foster, in filing false individual federal income tax returns in which they fraudulently claimed refunds ranging from $8,000 to $500,000. Robert Foster also filed his own false individual federal income tax returns in which he fraudulently claimed a refund of $500,000. The refund requests were based on alleged reparations for slavery, a claim which has no basis in the tax laws.

JillUser

on Jan 26, 2006

Heh. I suspect he'd take well to prison.
"Oh, dear me, I dropped the soap again!"

I must admit that was my initial reaction too

I wonder if he will walk around naked on his birthday like he did on suvivor?

If he does, I suspect he will get a completely different reaction

singrdave

on Jan 26, 2006

Maybe he thought his "celebrity" would save him from being prosecuted.

Don't people realize that the IRS watches these shows, too?

And that the networks/production companies have to file payouts with the IRS?

Heck, if you go to a casino and win more than like $3000, the casino is required to report your winnings to the IRS.

The IRS folks are very very very good at their jobs.

I wonder if he will walk around naked on his birthday like he did on suvivor?

He's gonna get some new friends, and I'll bet he won't get voted off anything. He may get voted onto a few things, methinks.

Trudygolightly

on Jan 26, 2006

I couldn't stand him on Survivor, and wonder how on earth he figured he didn't have to take responsibility for the taxes?

Like you say, unless it's in writing..........

supposedly he's intelligent, I think that remark about Survivor paying the taxes is an outright lie, trying to cover his ahhhhhhhhh
assets.

Silver Surfer

on Jan 26, 2006

It is a bit odd why some of you are giddy over this. You do realize this is a federal infraction, not a state one. Therefor, he is sentenced to federal prison (aka Club Med) as opposed to state prison, which is infamouse for all the soap jokes. In all likelihood, he will be in a minimum to low security prison.

If he gets the maximum time, the government will spend more to punish him than the IRS will collect from him, and you get to pick up the tab.

'til dawn...

garsgolfer

on Jan 26, 2006

When I think of him, pathetic comes to mind. I agree with your assessment too. Imagine a gay guy being sent to a place where for 13yrs men use other men for sex. Could he have planned this or could be heaven sent for him.

JillUser

on Jan 26, 2006

If he gets the maximum time, the government will spend more to punish him than the IRS will collect from him, and you get to pick up the tab.

And if we didn't invest in punishing scumbags who think they don't have to pay taxes, noone would pay taxes. The threat of going to jail is a good incentive to make sure taxes are paid as far as I'm concerned.

And I'm not giddy about it. I am just astonished by his stupidity and/or arrogance.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 26, 2006

I was gonna blog on this, but ya beat me to it . So, I'll add my "moral" to this story (and my pithy comments):

If ya win a million bucks on national TV, pay yer taxes (YEESH!)

Now I'll go write my tangent on the "gaying" of Richard Hatch. Watch for it.

Dr Guy

on Jan 26, 2006

Now I'll go write my tangent on the "gaying" of Richard Hatch. Watch for it.

Now that is a must read!

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 26, 2006

Anyone who thinks doing federal time is some kind of picnic needs to think again. Its not. Trust me. I've been there, done that. It's still a miserable way to spend your days and nights.

I've been in a quite decent county lockup, and have this to say: anyone that calls our prisons "country clubs" has obviously never spent time in prison.

Silver Surfer

on Jan 26, 2006

With respect to "federal time... picnic", it was a comparison of federal prison to state prison; not a travel brochure of prisons alone.

With respect to "punishing scumbags", the point is it worth going so far that your costs exceed your returns?

By the way, people are allowed to arrange their affairs so as to pay the least amount in taxes, if at all.

'til dawn...

Dr Guy

on Jan 26, 2006

By the way, people are allowed to arrange their affairs so as to pay the least amount in taxes, if at all.

Yea, but you still have to pay what you owe, and declare all you got. 2 things he forgot.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!