The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
The woman, 51, worked as an activities director in the Naples-area community. According to the authorities, she told residents between 2022 and 2024 that she had cancer and was undergoing treatment. She allegedly took steps to make the story appear convincing, including pretending that her condition was getting worse and maintaining the appearance of someone facing a serious illness.
At one point, community members reportedly cut her hair because they believed she was preparing for chemotherapy.
Concerned residents later organized a GoFundMe campaign on her behalf. The fundraiser was connected to her personal bank account, while residents also allegedly gave her cash and personal checks. In all, investigators determined that 238 residents had been defrauded of more than $40,000, according to the authorities.
The investigation also uncovered two earlier GoFundMe campaigns in which the woman had allegedly claimed to have cancer. Authorities said she had not actually been sick and had used money from those fundraisers to pay personal debts. The discovery raised questions about whether the same false claims had been used repeatedly to obtain financial assistance from people who believed they were helping with medical expenses.
GoFundMe removed the fundraisers and banned the woman from using the platform for future campaigns. More than $41,000 was refunded to donors through the company’s Giving Guarantee, according to a GoFundMe spokesperson.
The woman turned herself in after detectives obtained an arrest warrant. She was arrested Aug. 5 and charged with grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000, a second-degree felony.
She remained in the Collier County Jail following her arrest.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.