HARRISBURG, Pa. (KRON/CNN) — A Pennsylvania beauty queen has been arrested on charges she faked having cancer in an elaborate scheme that raised thousands of dollars.
Brandi Lee Weaver-Gates, Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International, was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Centre County Correctional Facility, charged with felony counts of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
Investigators say Weaver-Gates led the public to believe that she had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in March 2013.
In the years that followed, she took part in fundraisers to pay for her “treatment.” Police told CNN affiliate WJAC the most recent event was held in April and raised $14,000.
A police investigation found no evidence that Weaver-Gates had ever been under a doctor’s care for cancer.
State Police Trooper Thomas Stock called her efforts to make people believe she had cancer “an elaborate scheme,” telling WJAC that Weaver-Gates would have relatives drive her to Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.
They would wait in the lobby for hours for her return, while she went to another part of the hospital. Police
say Weaver-Gates even produced a fake hospital bill from Johns Hopkins.
Investigators say an anonymous letter to police tipped them off to the alleged scam.
“When confronted with what the investigation revealed the accused advised that she did not want to incriminate herself and invoked her right to an attorney,” police said in a release.
The pageant has responded by pulling her Miss Pennsylvania, U.S. International title.
“When you deceive the public and take people’s money that is under the pretense of fraud, we will not tolerate those actions,” said a statement from Butler’s Beauties, pageant organizers.
“Ms. Weaver-Gates … will be required to return her crown and sash upon her release from being detained.”
Weaver-Gates is due in court next week.