A Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Scamming Hundreds with Fake Cancer
Amanda C.
Riley, a woman who faked cancer for seven years, has been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding people out of more than $100,000.
The U.S.
Attorney’s Office in Northern California revealed that Riley managed to convince 349 different organizations and individuals, including family members, friends, and strangers, that she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer.
Riley went to great lengths to maintain her deception, forging medical records, doctor’s signatures, and even silencing those who suggested she was faking her illness.
The elaborate lie began to unravel when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) started investigating her activities.
Now, after five years behind bars, Riley will also have to serve an additional three years of supervision and repay the money she took from unsuspecting victims.
NewsNation correspondent Alex Capprariello has been following the story closely.
Despite pleading guilty, Riley has shown some signs of remorse throughout the court proceedings.
According to her lawyer, she is deeply regretful of the harm she caused and has expressed remorse to her family as well.
In a written statement, Riley’s brother described the burden of living with such a significant lie for several years, acknowledging the impact it had on her identity.
Janet Johnson, a criminal defense attorney, joined NewsNation to discuss the wire fraud charges in the case.
Johnson explained that wire fraud was the appropriate charge for a federal case like this, as it involved the use of credit cards and mail checks.
Although Riley faced the possibility of a 20-year sentence, her attorney managed to secure a five-year term.
Johnson noted that while $100,000 is not a small amount, federal courts often deal with cases involving millions of dollars in restitution.
The severity of Riley’s lie, which exploited the tragedy of cancer, likely influenced the length of her sentence.
Riley’s case serves as a reminder of the impact and consequences of fraudulently manipulating people’s sympathies and trust.
As she begins her prison term, she will have to confront the repercussions of her actions and work towards making amends for the financial and emotional damage she caused to her victims.
