‘Armed robbery liar’ Lochte charged with falsely reporting a crime

US swimmer Ryan Lochte has been charged with making a false statement to police, after he claimed he had been robbed at gunpoint at the Rio Olympics. The 32-year-old gold medallist is to be informed in the US so he can decide whether to introduce a defence in Brazil, according to a police statement. The indictment will also be sent to the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission. Under Brazilian law, the penalty for falsely filing a crime report carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison. Lochte could be tried in absentia if he didn’t return to face the charge.

The investigation was concluded on Thursday and Olympic American swimmer Ryan Lochte was indicted for the crime of falsely reporting a crime

Brazilian police statement

Lochte had initially said he and three teammates - Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen - were pulled over in their taxi by gunmen posing as police who then robbed them. However, police accused Lochte of fabricating the story to cover up vandalising a petrol station toilet while drunk. The swimmer has since apologised to Olympics host Brazil, blaming his immaturity for causing “all this ruckus”. He lost a number of sponsorship deals following the incident, reportedly worth around $1 million.

I left details out, and that’s why I’m in this mess. The people of Rio put on a great Games. They did everything. And my immature, intoxicated behavior tarnished that a little

Ryan Lochte

lochte