Woman accused of shaving her head to fake cancer for scam sent to prison, feds say

A former California woman will serve five years in prison for raising $105,000 in donations by pretending to have cancer, federal officials reported.

Amanda Christine Riley, a former San Jose resident, also must pay $105,000 in restitution, a May 3 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern California said. The 36-year-old now lives in Austin, Texas, according to the Mercury News

In 2012, Riley falsely reported she’d been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and sought donations for medical care on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and a blog, prosecutors said. She “aggressively” solicited contributions, the release said.

She also documented her “treatment” online, including shaving her head to simulate undergoing chemotherapy, falsifying medical records and forging letters from doctors, prosecutors said.

Riley convinced family members to lie for her and attacked anyone who doubted her claims, even suing one critic, the release said.

In all, she collected $105,513 from 349 individuals and entities, prosecutors said.

“In truth, Riley had no medical expenses,” the release said. She deposited the donations into her personal accounts to cover her living expenses.

The scam continued until 2019, when an investigation by police and the Internal Revenue Service revealed the truth, prosecutors said.

Riley pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a plea deal in October, the release said.

In a sentencing memorandum, Riley’s public defenders asked for a prison sentence of six months, saying she was “extremely remorseful,” The Mercury News reported.

“She is a devoted wife and mother and, before her actions ended her career, she was a gifted teacher,” the letter read. “While she does not have cancer, she does suffer from very real medical and mental health problems.”

On May 3, a judge sentenced Riley to five years in prison.

This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Woman accused of shaving her head to fake cancer for scam sent to prison, feds say."