Jodi Theriault, a fitness trainer and reality TV show participant from Gray, is facing felony welfare fraud charges.
Theriault, 42, was indicted by a grand jury in Cumberland County on Thursday on one count of felony theft by deception.
Jodi Theriault Photo courtesy History
Prosecutors say that from 2009 through 2016, she obtained more than $10,000 in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and MaineCare, by hiding assets that would have disqualified her from the programs.
She created the impression that the father of her children was not a member of her household, and also that she did not have access to his income, according to the indictment. She also failed to disclose “significant reportable assets” including a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and multiple bank accounts.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kendra Lychwala.
Theriault is a mother of three and appeared on at least two reality TV shows since 2016.
As a contestant on Steve Austin’s Broke Skull Challenge in February of that year, she ran in 100-degree heat with a 45-pound log on her back, but ultimately was sent home after losing a brawl involving seven other women.
In 2017, she was on the History network show “The Selection: Special Operations Experiment,” which challenged 30 people with no military experience to endure the same physical and mental challenges that Navy SEAL and Army Ranger recruits sign up for.
A spokesperson for the Maine Attorney General’s Office wasn’t aware of an immediate court date. Because the Cumberland County Courthouse is still processing indictments from last week, it’s unclear who Theriault’s attorney will be.
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