Hatch to plead guilty to tax evasion

updated 6:35 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Richard Hatch, who became a millionaire when he won the first-ever “Survivor” reality show, has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of tax evasion for failing to report income, including the $1.01 million he won on the show.

Federal prosecutors charged that Hatch, 43, filed false 2000 and 2001 tax returns, omitting his income from the CBS show, as well as another $321,000 he was paid by a Boston radio station.

The penalty could be up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge. However, as part of the plea agreement filed Tuesday in federal court, the U.S. Attorney’s office said it would recommend a lesser sentence.

The agreement isn’t binding, and Hatch could still choose to plead innocent and proceed to trial.

A message left at Hatch’s Newport home was not immediately returned and his lawyer did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Hatch was scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence on Monday.

The charges were announced Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s office. The details of the plea agreement appeared in court documents, which were signed by Hatch on Jan. 6 and filed Tuesday.

As part of the plea agreement, Hatch said he would pay the taxes he owes, which the government said are between $200,000 and $400,000. The agreement does not shield him from any penalties the Internal Revenue Service might impose.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Survivor Entertainment Group paid Hatch $10,000 in August 2000 for appearing on the final episode of the reality show and $1 million for being declared the show’s winner. Prosecutors allege that in November 2002, Hatch filed a false personal income tax return for the 2000 tax year by failing to report the $1.01 million.

Prosecutors also said that Hatch failed to report income he earned working as on-air co-host and on-air personality for “The Wilde Show” on WQSX-FM in Boston between January and December 2001.

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