Legal News

Ontario woman who faked cancer pleads guilty to fraud

By (Breaking Legal News)

An Ontario woman has pleaded guilty to keeping thousands of dollars in donations after faking terminal cancer.

Ashley Kirilow of Burlington was charged with six counts of fraud under $5,000 and one count of fraud over $5,000.

In a soft voice, Ms. Kirilow pleaded guilty to defrauding Donna Michalowski of close to $7,400 collected at a fundraiser held at a bar.

The other five charges will be addressed next year.

Police said the 23-year-old woman pretended to have cancer to raise money that she promised to give to charity, but kept the cash for herself.

Ms. Kirilow turned herself in to police on Aug. 6.

Her father has said she told him she shaved her head and eyebrows, and plucked her eyelashes to appear to have cancer.

When allegations surfaced against Ms. Kirilow, public outrage was swift.

Angry comments were splashed across the Facebook page set up for Ms. Kirilow's fake charity, Change for the Cure, with some even saying they hoped she got cancer.

One report published before Ms. Kirilow was charged had the young woman saying she was sorry for what she did.

Full post as published by Breaking Legal News on November 02, 2010 (boomark / email).