DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman who falsely claimed to have cancer and documented her “battle” on social media will stay out of prison after a judge gave her probation and a suspended sentence.
As part of the 10-year suspended sentence handed down Friday, she was ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution and a $1,370 fine.
Russo told the court she made her story up because she hoped her fake cancer battle would force her troubled family to focus on her.
Police subpoenaed her medical records and found she had never been diagnosed with cancer at any medical facility in the area.
That bothered Rhonda Miles, who runs a pancreatic cancer foundation in Nashville, Tennessee, that donated to Russo and testified at the hearing.
Persons:
Madison Russo, she'll, Judge John Telleen, Russo, ”, “, GoFundMe, Kelly Cunningham, Rhonda Miles, ” Miles, ” Russo
Organizations:
Facebook, Police
Locations:
DAVENPORT , Iowa, An Iowa, Bettendorf, Scott, Nashville , Tennessee, sobs