DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa lady who falsely claimed to have most cancers and documented her “battle” on social media will keep out of jail after a choose gave her probation and a suspended sentence.
Madison Russo, 20, by no means had pancreatic most cancers, leukemia nor the football-sized tumor wrapped round her backbone she that claimed in postings on TikTok, GoFundMe, Fb and LinkedIn. However over 400 folks despatched her donations. As a part of the 10-year suspended sentence handed down Friday, she was ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution and a $1,370 nice. If she stays out of bother for 3 years of probation, she’ll keep free.
The Bettendorf lady pleaded responsible in June to first-degree theft. In court docket on Friday, Decide John Telleen declined a protection request that might have wiped the conviction off her file if she completes probation efficiently. He mentioned individuals who take care of her sooner or later ought to know that she as soon as engaged in a “felony scheme,” and that “severe crimes will need to have severe penalties.”
“By way of this scheme, you deceived your pals, your loved ones, your group, different most cancers victims, charities and strangers who have been motivated by your supposedly tragic story to donate to assist assist you,” the choose mentioned.
Russo instructed the court docket she made her story up as a result of she hoped her faux most cancers battle would power her troubled household to deal with her.
“Lots of people have made hypothesis as to why I did this and the way anyone who seemed like that they had the whole lot collectively may have such a large number,” she mentioned. “I didn’t do that for cash or greed. I didn’t do that for consideration. I did this as an try to get my household again collectively.”
Her sentence additionally contains 100 hours of group service. She paid the $39,000 restitution earlier, and the cash was being held by the court docket. GoFundMe has already despatched refunds to donors.
Her rip-off unraveled when medical professionals noticed discrepancies in her story on-line. Police subpoenaed her medical information and located she had by no means been recognized with most cancers at any medical facility within the space. She was arrested in January.
Scott County prosecutor Kelly Cunningham really helpful towards jail time as a result of Russo had no felony historical past, had good grades in school, was employed and was unlikely to reoffend. That bothered Rhonda Miles, who runs a pancreatic most cancers basis in Nashville, Tennessee, that donated to Russo and testified on the listening to.
“It was devastating to take a seat there and watch the Scott County prosecuting legal professional act like a defending legal professional, in order that was powerful,” Miles mentioned. “And I believe she’ll have numerous inquiries to reply from the locals on that sooner or later. Why have been you defending this woman once you have been imagined to be prosecuting?”
Russo apologized to the court docket and her victims, and mentioned she wished she had sought out assist relating to her household.
“I totally acknowledge what I did was fallacious. And I’m extremely sorry,” she mentioned by sobs. “If there was something I may do to take it again I’d. The truth is I can’t.”