Saturday, April 21, 2012

A Hispanic teenager who raised money by claiming to be dying of cancer has been arrested after being indicted on a theft-by-deception charge

Police arrested Angie Gomez, 19, at her place of work after a warrant was issued. Gomez was jailed, and her bond was set at $50,000. A grand jury in the 34th District Court indicted Gomez on a state jail felony charge of theft by deception, the amount of the theft being more than $1,500 and less than $20,000, documents stated. The Latina had told a heartbreaking tale of having leukemia as a child and now fighting a fatal resurgence of the cancer. She told classmates at Horizon High School that doctors in January 2011 had given her six months to live. Classmates and teachers rallied around her and held fundraisers, and then she was invited to speak at other schools. Several people helped Gomez create the Achieve the Dream Foundation intended to help families of children with cancer. On June 2, 2011, Horizon City police opened an investigation after receiving a complaint that Gomez did not appear to be ill. It had been six months, the time doctors had supposedly told her that she had left to live. Police had said detectives found no information that Gomez ever had cancer. Detectives subpoenaed the bank records of the Achieve the Dream Foundation. Investigators estimated that Gomez received $17,000 from fundraisers, checks, gift cards and in-kind donations. It has never been disclosed whether Gomez returned the money.

No comments: