Reality television victor Richard Hatch has been sent to an Oklahoma federal prison to serve a 51-month sentence for failing to pay taxes on the more than $1 million he took away from the first season of CBS's "Survivor."
Hatch, 45, of Newport, R.I., reportedly arrived last week at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City, which officials said is traditionally a hub for prisoners transferring through the federal system, but also houses a permanent population of prisoners.
In January, H atch, was found guilty on three counts of tax evasion and filing a false return for failing to report income of more than $1.4 million from the television series and other sources. A federal judge also ordered Hatch to pay taxes that he owes for 2000 and 2001, which the Internal Revenue Service calculated at $474,971, plus interest and penalties. The judge upped Hatch's sentence for obstruction of justice, saying that he believed Hatch committed perjury on the witness stand.
Hatch had previously been held in protective custody at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts since his sentencing in May. Hatch's lawyers, who filed a notice of appeal immediately following the trial and said he has been preparing the case, said that he did not know where Hatch would be serving the rest of his sentence.
Hatch would be scheduled for release in October 2009.
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