Story County Sheriff: Woman Nets $50,000 in Donations with Fake Cancer Ruse

From a press release:

The Story County Sheriff charged an Iowa Falls woman on Thursday with felony theft and other charges saying she accepted funds raised at a benefit for a cancer she never had.

Heidi Denio, 37, Iowa Falls, was charged with first-degree theft, a Class C felony; ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony; and forgery, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The Sheriff said a March 4, 2012 benefit in Zearing raised $50,995 for Denio, who claimed to have terminal cancer. After the benefit the Sheriff's office received a tip that Denio was lying about the disease. During the course of a year-long investigation the sheriff's office discovered that Denio never had cancer and that she forged a doctor's signature on a letter to back up her claims, a release said. Denio continued to receive funds to support her nonexistent condition, according to the release.

Denio could spend more than 35 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Class B felonies are punishable by up to 25 years in prison and Class C felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

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