Ryan Lochte Hit with Criminal Charge in Rio, Could Face Jail Time

Ryan Lochte has just been formally charged in Brazil with filing a false police report stemming from the August 14th gas station incident ... and faces jail time if convicted.

Brazilian officials have already summoned the swimmer to Rio for a hearing on the incident -- but sources close to Lochte say there's no way in hell he'll go.

The charge is not an extraditable offense ... meaning he can't be forced to Brazil by American courts.

If convicted of filing a false police report, Lochte could face up to 6 months in jail. The likelihood is ... Lochte's lawyers will negotiate a fine similar to the one Jimmy Feigen paid -- $11k -- to charity, and the case will go away.