Woman who faked cancer, used donations, gets prison for fraud

(CBS/KYW/AP) NORRISTOWN, Pa. - A suburban Philadelphia woman who faked having cancer and took donation money for personal use has been sentenced to prison.

Alicia Tolton, 27, was sentenced Monday to 11 ½ to 23 months in prison on charges of theft by deception, forgery and tampering with records. She will also have to serve three years of probation.

Authorities say Tolton's friends organized a beef-and-beer benefit last year as part of "Wishes for Alisha." Two friends who helped organize the fundraiser told the judge they felt "humiliated" and betrayed.

Authorities estimate Tolton took in about $1,000 from the fundraiser and received two tickets to a Philadelphia Eagles game.

Tolton admitted that she used the donations to pay her bills, and a drug debt.

"She took advantage of people's goodwill in probably the most despicable way possible by pretending to have cancer, so that she could solicit money and gifts from people," says prosecutor Kate McGill, according to CBS affiliate KYW, "And she used that money to buy drugs to support her habit."

Now that's sick.