Montgomery County Woman Sentenced In Fake Cancer Scam
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - A Montgomery County woman will spend at least 11½ months behind bars for stealing money from people who believed she was suffering from cancer.
A judge today sentenced Alicia Tolton to 11½-23 months in jail, followed by three years' probation. The 27-year-old Upper Moreland woman pleaded guilty to charges of theft, forgery, and tampering with records.
Authorities says her scam began to unravel in August of last year when a family member went to police and told them that Tolton duped family members out of money to pay for her alleged treatments (see previous story).
"She took advantage of people's goodwill in probably the most despicable way possible," says prosecutor Kate McGill, "by pretending to have cancer, so that she could solicit money and gifts from people. And she used that money to buy drugs to support her habit."
McGill says sympathizers were even planning a beef-and-beer benefit to help raise money to pay her medical bills.
McGill says Tolton apologized in court for her actions.
Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060
