Police: Pa. man faked brain tumor to swindle church, friends
OIL CITY, Pa. -- Police say a northwestern Pennsylvania man faked having a brain tumor to bilk a church and some friends out of nearly $3,000 in cash and other assistance.
The Derrick newspaper reports Oil City police determined 36-year-old Matthew James Wilson created "an imaginary, fictitious brain tumor."
The Franklin resident is accused of using the story to borrow money from an Oil City church, its pastor and others to deal with the tumor and debts.
Police say one couple at the church lent Wilson $400 and then he borrowed their new $450 electric generator and returned it "broken and unusable."
Police filed charges of theft, receiving stolen property and forgery against Wilson on Monday.
Online court records don't list an attorney for Wilson, who doesn't have a listed telephone number.