Prosecutors: Survivor Winner Filed False Tax Return

Richard Hatch, the winner of the first season of the TV reality show "Survivor," has been charged with filing false tax returns by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island. The office alleged that Hatch had filed a false income tax return that omitted the more than $1 million in prize money that he received for winning the popular reality show. He also was charged with failing to report approximately $321,000 paid to him by a Boston radio station for co-hosting a program. The district attorney's office charged that, in November 2002, Hatch filed a false personal income tax return for the year 2000 and neglected to report the $1,010,000 paid to him by Survivor Entertainment Group, the production company of the reality show. Hatch reportedly was paid $10,000 for his appearance on the final episode of the first season, and $1,000,000 for winning the competition.