Bucks County Abduction Hoax Mom Gets 8+ Years For $1M Fraud
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Bonnie Sweeten, the Bucks County woman who faked her own kidnapping and fled to Disney World as her thieving past was catching up to her, has been sentenced to just over eight years in federal prison.
A tearful Sweeten today told the judge she was sorry. She apologized to all the victims from whom she stole a total of more than $1 million.
Victims included her former law firm boss, clients, even a 91-year-old relative suffering from dementia.
"I am very sorry for my actions," she said. "I wake up every day, even when I was out on bail. But waking up in prison, it clearly is a reminder every day of my actions and the things I have done to so many people, most of all my children."
Sweeten served ten months in prison for the hoax.
Hear Bonnie Sweeten's full courtroom statement in this CBS Philly podcast...
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The prosecutor says Sweeten was motivated by greed and wanted material things including a nice house, vacations, and jewelry -- a comfortable lifestyle she would not have had otherwise.
