Police: Woman faked kidney disease to raise money

[okarol]

Police: Woman faked kidney disease to raise money

The Morning Call
    1:27 PM EDT, April 22, 2009

A Berks County woman charged with faking that she had a rare kidney disease -- she appeared in news articles to raise money for medical bills -- turned herself in to authorities this morning, Berks County detectives said.

Jenna S. Esslinger's story of suffering from amyloidosis and transitional cell cancer appeared in the Reading Eagle and the Pottstown Mercury last year, Berks Country detectives said.

Esslinger, 25, of Maidencreek Township later spoke to officials with the Lions Club of Pennsylvania for donations and sent them an e-mail that included a suspected phony doctor's letter, sparking an investigation.

The investigation revealed that she was not suffering from any form of cancer and had received $12,000 in donations, but only $1,000 was used for medical-related expenses. She had been seeking to raise $90,000.

She was charged yesterday with limitations on activities of charitable organizations, misrepresentation, forgery and theft by deception.

-- Reporting by Manuel Gamiz Jr., The Morning Call

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-fake-disease-042209-cn,0,2956051.story

[Romona]

People like this make it hard for people that really need help to get it.

[paris]

My daughter had a similar experience. She works for the Aids Alliance and a woman was seeking help with bills, meds, etc.  There were fund raisers for her, donations of food and clothes,etc.  This went on for a few months.  Then one night, we see this woman on the evening news.  She was arrested for fraud.  It was alll a scam.  How low can some people go?   

[G-Ma]