DAVENPORT, IOWA: Madison Russo, the 20-year-old from Bettendorf, Iowa, who falsely claimed to have cancer, will be staying out of prison after a judge gave her probation and a suspended sentence on Friday, October 20.
Russo took to social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn, as well as GoFundMe, to falsely claim that she battled pancreatic cancer, leukemia, and a football-sized tumor wrapped around her spine, apparently duping 400 people into sending her donation.
According to AP News, Russo was handed a 10-year suspended sentence, an order to pay $39,000 in restitution, and a $1,370 fine, alongside 100 hours of community service. She will stay out of prison if she manages to remain out of trouble during the three years of probation.
Madison Russo pleaded guilty to first-degree theft in June
A defense request was declined in court by Judge John Telleen that would have wiped the conviction off Madison Russo's record if she had completed probation successfully. The judge opined that "serious crimes must have serious consequences," and people who deal with Russo in the future should know that she once engaged in a "criminal scheme."
In June, Madison Russo, who was arrested in January, pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and has already paid the $39,000 restitution, which is being held by the court. Donors on GoFundMe were also refunded.
"Through this scheme, you deceived your friends, your family, your community, other cancer victims, charities, and strangers who were motivated by your supposedly tragic story to donate to help support you," said Judge Telleen.
Madison Russo claimed she faked cancer to bring together her 'troubled family'
"A lot of people have made speculation as to why I did this and how somebody who looked like they had everything together could have such a mess. I didn’t do this for money or greed. I didn’t do this for attention. I did this as an attempt to get my family back together," said Russo to the court.
Her scam came to light when medical professionals spotted discrepancies in her story online. On submitting her medical records, police found that she had never been diagnosed with cancer at any medical facility in the area.
On account of her lack of criminal history, good college grades, employment, and less chance of reoffending, Scott County prosecutor Kelly Cunningham had previously recommended against prison time for Russo.
Apologizing to the court and her victims, Russo said she wished she had sought help regarding her family and said, "I fully acknowledge what I did was wrong. And I’m incredibly sorry."
"If there was anything I could do to take it back I would. The reality is I can’t," added the 20-year-old while sobbing.
