Smoky Mountain Journal -STATE: Florida Couple Arrested For Fraud After Collecting Online Donations For Fake Claim Child Had Brain Cancer




The Great Smoky Mountain Journal Source: Fox News Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:31 PM

STATE: Florida Couple Arrested For Fraud After Collecting Online Donations For Fake Claim Child Had Brain Cancer
A Fort Walton Beach, Florida couple was arrested after investigators discovered they told people a child had terminal brain cancer and collected donations online. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, the 13-year-old child spent the last eight months believing he was going to die from brain cancer, but medical records show the child had no brain tumors. On investigation, deputies found Ginny and Robert Long set up a T-shirt fundraiser for the boy at his school in 2017 and shared the fake diagnosis on Facebook accounts. CBS News reports anyone who donated to the GoFundMe page will get a refund from the website. The couple was also banned from the crowdfunding site. The Sheriff's Office said the Longs are charged with one count of child abuse and nine counts of fraud.