Paul Hebert ‘Wicked Tuna’: Fraud Charges Will See Hebert In Court In August

Paul Hebert of Wicked Tuna fame has been charged with fraud. According to Fox News, the reality star has been charged with four counts of federal fraud after allegedly lying about being disabled. The court documents state that Hebert collected disability benefits for about three years, claiming that he couldn’t work because of an injury. Meanwhile, he was still fishing and participating on his reality show.

“The four-count indictment against the 50-year-old from Gloucester, Massachusetts, was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont. It alleges that Hebert accepted a little more than $44,000 in Social Security and Medicaid benefits between 2010 and 2013.”

Paul Hebert’s appearance on Wicked Tuna was the main reason behind the fraud charges, given the fact that he was making significant money by participating on the show. According to USA Today, the indictments states that Paul Hebert was indeed “capable of arduous physical labor” despite filing disability claims.

For those unfamiliar with Wicked Tuna, the show (which airs on the National Geographic Channel) follows a group of fisherman as they try to reel in some of the biggest bluefin tuna. According to the show’s website, one “monstah” bluefin can net these guys over $20,000, which is a pretty serious payday.

The show’s website keeps track of each of the captain’s catches, and Paul Hebert’s “Kelly Ann” is currently in fifth place with $34,000. The first place team, “Hard Merchandise,” has made $102,000. There is a pretty big gap to make up, but Hebert’s team could do it with just a few more big catches.

Wicked Tuna is currently in its fourth season.

If Paul Hebert is convicted of fraud, his time on Wicked Tuna could be over. Interestingly enough, reality star Teresa Giudice (from The Real Housewives of New Jersey) and her husband, Joe, were convicted of federal fraud in 2014. While both have to serve time behind bars, rumor has it Teresa will be back on RHONJ after she’s released from prison. Recently, the Giudice family filmed a reality special for Bravo, proving that the network hasn’t “fired” any of them in light of the fraud convictions.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Teresa inked a deal for $1 million to return to Housewives some time in the new year.

Paul Hebert of Wicked Tuna will face these fraud charges in court on August 10. Do you think he will be fired from the show if he is convicted? Are you surprised to hear about these charges?

[Photo by Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images]