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Hours after it was announced that Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen falsely reported being robbed on Sunday, the two swimmers have been indicted for their false reporting.
This most recent twist in the ever-unfolding story comes after testimonies from Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger where the two commented that the story about the robbery was “made up.” Bentz and Conger did not originally give statements about the robbery, but were pulled off a U.S. bound plane Wednesday night for questioning.
After interviewing the security guard at the gas station in question, Civil Police chief Fernando Veloso commented that “no robbery was committed against these athletes. They were not victims of the crimes they claimed.”
According to Veloso the bathroom on the side of the gas station was vandalized, mirrors were damaged, as well as other parts of the property. After being confronted regarding the damage the swimmers gave the gas station manager some money (a $20 bill and 100 reals [$51 U.S. Currency]) after a third party acted as interpreter.
Bentz, Conger, and Feigen are still in Brazil, while Lochte is back home in the United States.
UPDATE (10:22 Rio time): ESPN reports that Lochte and Feigen may not actually be indicted. Veloso said that the investigation will continue, and at the end of that process, charges may be recommended.
Also late Thursday evening, Lochte’s attorney, Jeff Ostrow, released a statement that criticized Rio police, who he claims “failed to acknowledge that the robbery actually took place.”
Full statement from Ryan Lochte attorney. “A gun was pointed at the swimmers..” #LochteGate pic.twitter.com/eqLijpbHzz
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) August 19, 2016
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The legal consequences are not that important. What matters is that if the account provided by Brazilian authorities proves to be accurate, ( One of the guys with Lochte has already admitted he was drunk, and they vandalized the place) then everyone will remember, that he was the great swimmer who lied to make himself look good, and make the local authorities look bad.
GuessLichte won’t have to worry about relocating Hus training base to California or plan to swim@. Tokyo. Pretty hard to train when you’re in the slammer.
Hmmm. Wonder if U.S. and Brazil have an extradition treaty for vandalism and lying to police.
As for Conger and Bentz, their respective universities ( Texas/ Georgia) may well take major disciplinary action. This is no laughing “boys will be boys” situation.
You think the legal consequences aren’t important? This could easily be the equivalent of a felony in the American legal system and could have consequences like never being able to obtain professional licenses or being employed in field with fiduciary duties. And then there is the whole problem with third world legal systems, and what they can do to you even if you are innocent.
Lochte is not playing with a full deck. Very bold to make up a cover story in a foreign country and tarnish the entire country over $20 worth of door damage. ?? He’s too stupid to be out at night in a foreign country without adult supervision. He’s lucky that he left early. The matter needs to be dealt with at the highest levels of USA Swimming and the appropriate punishment and suspensions handed out after a through investigation. Yes, there all innocent until proven guilty.