Maryland police have arrested Nigerian-American reality TV personality, Wendy Osefo, and her husband, Edward “Eddie” Osefo, over alleged insurance fraud involving claims of a fake home burglary.
The couple, popular for their appearance on The Real Housewives of Potomac, was taken into custody on October 9, 2025, after investigators reportedly uncovered inconsistencies in their insurance filings. Mrs. Osefo faces 16 charges, including seven felonies, while her husband faces 18 counts, nine of which are felonies.
According to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the couple claimed that while they were on vacation in Jamaica in April 2024, burglars broke into their Maryland home and stole luxury goods worth over $200,000. The list allegedly included jewelry, designer clothing, and other expensive items.
However, investigators discovered that over $20,000 worth of those items had been returned to retail stores before the supposed burglary took place. A Dior shirt, for instance, was traced to a prior return transaction.
Adding to investigators’ suspicion, Mrs. Osefo was later seen wearing one of the “stolen” rings in a social media post, despite including the item in her theft report.
The Sheriff’s Office also found no signs of forced entry or motion inside the residence during the time frame the couple claimed their home was burglarized. Records from the ADT home security system reportedly showed no disturbance or suspicious activity.
Sheriff James T. DeWees described the outcome of the investigation bluntly:
“It became clear that the Osefos had fabricated the burglary and filed a false report … attempt[ing] to fraud their insurance company.”
Court documents also revealed that the couple allegedly filed duplicate claims for some items with different insurance companies.
The pair have each posted a $50,000 bond and were released pending trial. Their legal representatives have requested privacy and said the couple intends to contest the allegations.
The case is expected to return to court later this year.
Observers said the charges could have serious professional and reputational consequences for Mrs. Osefo, who is also a university professor and public figure.
Legal experts noted that the alleged pattern, returning goods before claiming them as stolen, is a common strategy in insurance fraud cases and could complicate their defense.
