Wendy Osefo found herself at the center of serious legal scrutiny on Friday after a prosecutor claimed the Real Housewives of Potomac star and her husband, Eddie Osefo, “have very little money,” despite their high-end lifestyle and designer-heavy image on television.
The comment was made during a contentious hearing in Carroll County Circuit Court, according to the Baltimore Banner, where the state sought access to eight years’ worth of the couple’s personal and business financial records. Wendy and Eddie were present in the courtroom as they attempted to block the subpoenas, which their attorneys argued contained “private and confidential” information.
Prosecutor Melissa Hockensmith told the judge that the records were necessary for the case and emphasized the public interest involved.
“The public has an interest in these crimes and to make sure justice is done in this case,” Hockensmith said.
Judge Richard R. Titus appeared receptive to the argument and later ruled in the state’s favor, allowing the subpoenas to move forward.
Wendy and Eddie Osefo were charged in October with seven counts of insurance fraud, eight counts of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and one count of making a false statement to a police officer. The charges stem from an alleged burglary at their Finksburg, Maryland home on April 7, 2024, while the couple was vacationing in Jamaica.
The Osefos reported that thieves ransacked their bedroom and closets, claiming $450,000 worth of designer handbags and jewelry were stolen. However, prosecutors allege that several of the items reported missing had already been returned to stores for refunds before the alleged burglary took place.
According to court filings, investigators believe the couple was “burdened by substantial debt.” Prosecutors also previously claimed the Osefos had approximately 40 credit and debit cards, some believed to be in company names.
During Friday’s hearing, Hockensmith amended that figure, telling the court that investigators actually found 67 credit and debit cards inside four luxury wallets.
She said one of those wallets was a lambskin, black-quilted Chanel wallet that had previously been reported stolen.
The state further alleged that Wendy and Eddie used aliases, including “Pam Oliver” and “Eddie Hennessy,” in what prosecutors described as a “deliberate attempt to mask their identity.”
Wendy Osefo’s attorney, Jeremy Eldridge, pushed back strongly against the allegations, accusing prosecutors of exaggerating details to embarrass the couple. He argued that many of the cards were expired or tied to joint accounts and said the aliases were only used when ordering packages.
“There is no evidence that the Osefos are in financial distress,” Eldridge told the court, adding that the subpoenas amounted to a “fishing expedition” designed to establish motive.
Eddie Osefo’s attorney, Joseph Murtha, echoed that argument, stating that prosecutors were seeking information that had “no bearing on the outcome of the case.”
Murtha also addressed comments Hockensmith made earlier comparing her own spending habits to the Osefos’, noting that the prosecutor claimed she had only ever spent about $300 on a handbag, while the couple allegedly owned $30,000 Hermès Birkin bags.
The Osefos, Murtha said, were not guilty of any crime simply because “they live a life quite different from the prosecutor.”
Wendy and Eddie sat quietly in court, holding hands before the hearing began, and did not speak during the proceedings. They are scheduled to face trial in April 2026 as the state continues to examine their financial records and build its case.