DAVENPORT, Iowa (WKRC) - An Iowa woman who made false claims on social media about having cancer faced a judge on Friday for sentencing.
According to Associated Press, 20-year-old Madison Russo accepted donations from more than 400 people after posting on Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and GoFundMe.
She apparently told users she was suffering from pancreatic cancer and leukemia, as well as a "football-sized tumor" that wrapped around her spine.
Multiple medical professionals began pointing out discrepancies in her claims, such as incorrect usage of medical equipment, resulting in police subpoenaing her medical records.
They found she had never been diagnosed with cancer at any medical facilities in her area, and she was arrested in January.
why would someone do this? living a lie this big must be awful. #maddi ...See more
In June, Russo plead guilty to first degree theft. She told the court that she did it to reunite her family members.
“A lot of people have made speculation as to why I did this, and how somebody who looked like they had everything together could have such a mess,” she said. “I didn’t do this for money or greed. I didn’t do this for attention. I did this as an attempt to get my family back together.”
Prosecutors told the judge she should be exempt from prison because she is "unlikely to reoffend," given her previously clean criminal record, education, and stable career.
“I was 18 years old and I was a freshman in college when it took place. I’m young and I...
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