Candiace Dillard Bassett, a familiar face from Real Housewives of Potomac, is "blown away" by the recent news. Her castmate, Wendy Osefo, and Wendy’s husband, Eddie Osefo, have been arrested. This development has sent shockwaves through the reality TV community.
"I am shocked. I am sad," Candiace, 38, shared during an interview on FOX 5 DC on Friday, October 10. The former Bravo star admitted she was "shaking" after hearing about the Osefos’ arrest just before her segment went live. "Literally, I am finding out this news with you guys," she explained.
Her immediate thoughts went to the Osefos’ situation. "The first thing I think is: $300, and a mother and a father are arrested," she said. "They are business owners, entrepreneurs." Candiace highlighted their successful marijuana business, noting it creates jobs and chances for people of color in the DMV area. She questioned, "My first thought is: ‘Are they being targeted? Is this something we should think about?’"
News outlet Us Weekly confirmed on Friday that Wendy and Eddie, both 41, were arrested and booked in Westminster, Maryland, the day before. A grand jury formally charged Wendy with insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and making a false statement to police, according to court papers.
The string of arrests affecting the RHOP cast seems to be on Candiace’s mind. During her Friday interview, she also mentioned fellow RHOP star Karen Huger. Karen was released from prison just last month after being arrested in 2024 for driving under the influence. "Karen just came home," Candiace said. "Karen paid her debt to society. But you could say, perhaps, Karen was made an example of."
Candiace expressed her heartbreak over Wendy’s situation. "We text all the time. She never hinted that anything was wrong," Candiace continued. "I am shocked, and it feels like someone wants to harm the girls. How is it that two women from the same show — the same show that features Black American women, in the climate we live in today, where people are stopped and pulled off the street for minor issues — are facing this? I would like to see everything before I jump to conclusions."
The arrests of Wendy and Eddie stem from an incident more than a year ago. In April 2024, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported burglary at their home. The couple claimed they had traveled to Jamaica and returned to find their house ransacked. They reported several designer handbags and pieces of jewelry missing.
At that time, Eddie provided statements to two insurance companies about the stolen items. Both Eddie and Wendy signed statements claiming $2,500 in damages to their home and $450,000 for the stolen goods. After the robbery was reported, police noted some strange differences in the list of missing items. Two days after the supposed break-in, Eddie updated the insurance claim. He added Wendy’s gold and diamond anniversary ring to the list. Following this claim, they received a payment of $25,380 from Travelers Insurance.
Their second claim, with Jewelers Mutual Insurance, also listed Wendy’s gold anniversary ring as missing. However, it did not mention the payment already received from Travelers Insurance. Police officers grew suspicious when they saw photos of Wendy wearing the supposedly stolen ring in pictures taken after the April 2024 incident. Authorities then carried out a search and seizure warrant at Wendy and Eddie’s home. They confirmed that at least 15 of the items the couple claimed were stolen during the alleged robbery were actually still at the residence. The investigation concluded that the Osefos were "struggling with a lot of debt," according to court documents obtained by Us.