SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — Dozens of thousands of dollars were given to Sherri Papini from several sources during the time she claimed she was a victim of a kidnapping, according to new details outlined in the Department of Justice's Criminal Complaint.
"Sherri Papini cost public safety (conservatively) in excess of $150,000 dollars in resources to investigate her knowingly false claims and staged abduction," posted Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson on Facebook.
When the search first began, there was a Gofundme online meant to, "Go directly to the Papini family and will be used for search efforts to Find Sherri and to Help bring her home Safely. Every Dollar Counts as time is critical."
That Gofundme ended up raising around $49,070 that the complaint claims went instead to paying off credit cards. It says Papini spent approximately $3,053 to pay off her personal credit cards and thousands more went to her and her husband for personal expenses.
The Complaint claims that Papini also fraudulently obtained thousands in victim assistance from the California Victim Compensation Board (“CalVCB”).
The CalVCB provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes. In the application for Papini, a series of questions were asked to determine the eligibility of the victim for CalVCB.
According to court records, from 2017 through 2021, Papini’s request for victim assistance funding caused approximately 35 payments totaling over $30,000 to be issued by mail, including to her...
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