A 19-year-old woman who claimed to have cancer was arrested and charged with theft by means of deception on Monday.
Madison Russo is suspected of stealing more than $37,000 from more than 439 donors with false claims she suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, stage 2 pancreatic cancer and “a tumor the size of a football” that wrapped around her spine, Eldridge Police said in a news release.
Russo shared her story on social media, on GoFundMe and in the North Scott Press. She also spoke at St. Ambrose University, The National Pancreatic Foundation in Chicago and a Project Purple podcast.
Witnesses who have medical experience spoke with the Eldridge Police Department on January 11 and pointed out many medical discrepancies found in her pictures posted on social media. Police discovered that Russo also received private donations from businesses, non-profit organizations and school districts in addition to the GoFundMe page.
During the investigation, police obtained medical records that showed she had never been diagnosed with any kind of cancer or tumor from any medical facilities in the Quad Cities or surrounding areas. Officers conducting a search warrant at her residence in Bettendorf found “items of evidentiary value.”
Russo was arrested Monday and charged with theft by means of deception, a Class C felony, and was booked into Scott County Jail, where she is being held on $10,000 bond.
Anyone who has donated to Russo is asked to contact the Eldridge Police Department...
FDA and consumer protection officials suspended production at a Samut Sakhon canned fish factory after alleged false labelling Thai food and consumer protection authorities have ordered a canned f...