Disgraced Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has turned down a plea deal with Brazilian prosecutors to drop criminal charges connected to his tall tale of a gunpoint robbery, according to a report.
Lochte — who landed in hot water when he claimed he and his three pool pals were robbed at a gas station during the Rio games — was offered the chance to pay 70,000 reals (about $20,150) to deep-six the case, TMZ reported.
Jeff Ostrow, Lochte’s lawyer, declined to comment on the pending case, but said he was “hopeful it will be resolved to the benefit of all parties, including the people of Brazil, the Brazilian government and Ryan.”
The 32-year-old swimmer later recanted his story when it became clear after he was charged with falsely reporting a crime that his group had trashed the gas station after boozing it up in a bar.
“I’m taking full responsibility for it,” Lochte said in an interview. “Because I over-exaggerated that story. And if I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess … None of this would have happened. And it was my immature behavior.”
The US Olympic Committee suspended Lochte for 10 months. He also was suspended by the International Olympic Committee.
His fellow swimmers — James Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz — each got four months’ suspension.
Feigen copped a plea four months ago by paying 35,000 reals, or about $10,100.
The fiasco cost the 12-time Olympic medalist several endorsement deals, including with swim gear giant Speedo and fashion and lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren.
Lochte has since been voted off “Dancing With The Stars” and has proposed to his gal pal, Playboy Playmate Kayla Rae Reid.