'RHOP' Star Wendy Osefo, Husband Booked on Fraud Charges in Maryland

1:15 PM PT -- Bravo has paused the series premiere of "Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition" ... the Osefos were slated to appear in the first episode, Variety reports. The premiere is pushed back a week following the Osefos' arrests, from Oct. 14 to Oct. 21.

12:03 PM PT -- A rep for Wendy tells TMZ ... “Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband, Edward Osefo, are back home safely with their family and in good spirits. They are grateful for the outpouring of concern and support from friends, fans, and colleagues."

"The Osefos, alongside their legal team, look forward to their day in court. At this time, they respectfully ask for privacy as they focus on their family and the legal process ahead.”

Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband Eddie have been booked on criminal fraud charges, TMZ has learned.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, "The Real Housewives of Potomac" star is facing 16 charges -- including 7 felonies, for allegedly making false/misleading info fraud in excess of $300. She's also facing one misdemeanor count of making a false statement to an officer.

The couple was booked Thursday night in Westminster, Maryland.

Here's the deal ... police say the couple reported a burglary in April last year ... the couple claimed they found their bedroom ransacked after returning from a trip to Jamaica. We told you about that incident at the time.

According to the prosecution's bail recommendation documents obtained by TMZ ... the couple reportedly told police several designer bags and jewelry had been stolen -- but get this ... Carroll County sheriff's deputies allege Wendy was later seen in a social media post wearing a diamond ring she reported stolen!

Additionally, an investigation determined numerous items the Osefos claimed were stolen had been purchased, then returned to the store "where a full refund was provided prior to the alleged burglary." The documents indicate the couple had claimed a $450,000 personal property loss to an insurance company.

Wendy Osefo has been on the show since Season 5 ... she was a college professor of education -- she taught at Johns Hopkins University before resigning in 2024 -- and a contributor to The Hill and MSNBC. She has degrees from Temple University and Johns Hopkins, and a Ph.D. in public affairs and community development from Rutgers.

We just saw Wendy out and about on Sunday at a CultureCon event in Brooklyn, New York.

Wendy was tight with Kamala Harris during the former VP's run for president last year ... the two are members of the same sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.