Teen accused of pulling in $17,000 through fake cancer claim

A teenager claimed to be dying of cancer but is being accused of faking it to raise money, according to a report out of Texas.

The El Paso Times says that Angie Gomez, 19, was arrested Friday evening and was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail after being indicted on a theft-by-deception charge. The newspaper's website said court documents alleged that the amount was more than $1,500 and less than $20,000.

The Times said Gomez, 4 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 65 pounds, told classmates at Horizon High School in Horizon City that she had had leukemia as a child and the disease had reappeared -- and that doctors in January 2011 gave her six months to live.


Classmates held fundraisers and Gomez got help in forming the Achieve the Dream Foundation, ostensibly to aid families of children with cancer, according to the report.

But six months later, Horizon City police received a complaint that Gomez did not appear to be ill, and an investigation turned up no sign that Gomez ever had cancer.

After subpoenaing bank records for the Achieve the Dream Foundation, investigators estimated Gomez received $17,000 from fundraisers and other donations, the Times reported, saying it was unclear what happened to the money.

The report said police thought Gomez's mother was unaware of the extent of the fundraising.

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Deport the illegal alien trash or better yet take the infidel in a stadium and behead her. Sell tickets to the event and give the money to St. Judes as they are the best children's cancer treatmetn centers in the world.

    Reply#82 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

    I recently heard a similar story on the 5:00 news a few weeks ago. Only the story was about a bride who faked having cancer in order to pay for her wedding. She was also arrested for the same crime and her husband became her ex-husband. Crimes like these are simply disgusting!!!!! It's just so wrong on so many levels.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#83 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:52 AM EDT

    This is what happens when you allow beaners to run free in society.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#84 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:53 AM EDT

    Please don't judge Texans on W., hair guy, (I assume you know who I'm talking about), or stories like this. Texas is a big place so a lot of things go on...

    Signed,

    A Texan

    "Now where did I put that gun?" LOL

    • 3 votes
    Reply#85 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

    Put her in charge of fundraising in prison. She has cancer alright. Where? In her heart.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#86 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:22 PM EDT
    Reply

    I have Leukemia Miss Gomez, hope you read this post, there is nothing funny, or childish about the fraud you acted out.

    You deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

    The money you illegally scammed could have helped legitimate cancer suffers.

    You have an evil heart filled with bad intentions.

    I don't believe your parents didn't know what you were doing.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#87 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:37 PM EDT

    This makes me sick beyond words. I'm a breast cancer survivor but my 14 year old daughter was not so fortunate when she died of her cancer - desmoplastic small round cell tumor. We started a Foundation in her name and it is hard enough in this economic climate to raise funds as a legitimate 501c3 so hearing of someone using something as horrible as childhood cancer to scam people is truly disgusting and hurts all true charities.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#88 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:45 PM EDT

    This fraud by this teen represents only a very tiny fraction of the money many tax exempt organizations have bilked the public out of over the years.

    These organizations have taken in tens of millions of dollars - used that money to enrich themselves and have spent very little on the causes they claim to raise the money to help.

    They should use the law they say they will use to prosecute this teen to prosecute all those organizations who are not actually using donated funds to help. Sure some are actually honest - but prosecute those who are not.

    In comparison - this teens crime is extremely small - and - anything other than a slap on the wrist is a slap in the face of all those who have donated money to multimillion dollar organizations - and - have seen that money wasted.

      Reply#89 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:05 PM EDT
      Reply

      ABSOLUTELY at a loss of words to try such an evil way to obtain money !

      I hope she is punished to the MAX, and made to do community service, and visit in a hospital those that have the afflicting disease and relay her story.

      She will get justice in the end, because SELFISHNESS has it's own payback.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#90 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:15 PM EDT

      Lock him up.

        Reply#94 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:52 PM EDT

        people like this are the reason many good hearted folks fail to donate to worthy causes.

        this is really a selfish thing to do and knowing how Karma works it will be interesting to see how she gets bit in the arse by pulling this stunt!

        • 1 vote
        Reply#95 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 5:58 PM EDT

        Are times really that hard where people have to fake a illness to get money? o_O

        • 2 votes
        Reply#96 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:10 PM EDT

        I truly believe in karma and what you wish for or in this case fake, will come true.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#97 - Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:37 PM EDT

        This really pisses me off in a major way. In the last 10 years, I have lost my Father to cancer, my mother to cancer, and my brother to cancer.

        and this little twit lies and collects money when she is fine? WTF???!!!???

        • 1 vote
        Reply#98 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:02 AM EDT

        It's a sad story because it tempts fate. Karma has a way to bite those who deserve it.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#100 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:16 AM EDT

        Hearing this and many other stories like it, about these heartless sons of bitches that fake having such a terrible sickness makes me wish that they do eventually get cancer just because they probably have noe idea what it is like losing some one too this sickness. I have lost three too many family members to this sickness and we have these people out there looking at this as a way to make a quick buck well all I have to say is I truly hope they get what is coming to them.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#101 - Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:22 PM EDT
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