The Fort Collins, Colorado, sheriff’s office is investigating the possibility that an unnamed (by Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden) media outlet (believed to be website Gawker.com) that paid Robert Thomas, Richard Heene’s collaborator on a reality TV show idea, and who had sent an e-mail to the site outlining his plan for the show, perhaps had paid out prior to the hoaxed escaped balloon incident. If proved to be the case, then the website could face charges also.

The sheriff’s findings will be forwarded to prosecutors next week to determine whether Richard and his wife Mayumi Heene should be charged with false reporting.

It is believed Heene, who thinks the world will end in 2012, wanted the money from a reality show to pay for some sort of bunker to survive the Earth’s demise.

Watch video for more on the Balloon Family:

Watch video of Heene’s attorney, David Lane, response to the police’s allegations:

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