Shelby County, AL., woman, Jennifer Cataldo, who is accused of faking cancer to pocket donations amounting to $135,000, has now been formally indicted by a federal grand jury.
Cataldo, 37, is accused of stealing money from unsuspecting online donors after posting a fake cancer diagnosis. She is charged with eight counts of wire fraud and seven counts of bank fraud. The 15-count indictment includes charges claiming she used a phony terminal cancer diagnosis to solicit more than $38,000 from online donors and over $100,000 from family and friends.
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Investigators say Cataldo created one account called “Mom has Terminal Cancer Disney Trip” and raised more than $10,000. She also received a trip to Orlando A second account — “Jenny Flynn Cataldo Medical Care” — was created by a friend who believed Cataldo was dying of cancer and needed help paying for medical bills. It raised more than $25,000.
Prosecutors say Cataldo transferred all of the online donations into her personal bank account.
“Sadly, crimes like this make good people think twice before they are willing to be charitable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Roger Stanton. “It is hard to comprehend how anyone could sink so low as to claim to have cancer just to fuel their greed.”
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bank fraud is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.