Kelly Wasko, Gilbert Woman Who Faked Cancer for Cash, Pleads Guilty to Charges

Kelly Wasko, one of three Valley women accused in the past few months of being a cancer faker, pleaded guilty to three charges related to her arrest.Wasko, a 41-year-old Gilbert resident, made about $12,000 after duping family and friends, who created a Facebook account to accept donations for Wasko's imaginary...
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Kelly Wasko, one of three Valley women accused in the past few months of being a cancer faker, pleaded guilty to three charges related to her arrest.

Wasko, a 41-year-old Gilbert resident, made about $12,000 after duping family and friends, who created a Facebook account to accept donations for Wasko’s imaginary bone-marrow transplant, according to Gilbert police.

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According to police, Wasko told family and friends that she “desperately needed” the transplant, which her insurance wouldn’t cover.

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She made $12,000 via donations after the Facebook page was created, including $1,000 from her own adult daughter and $350 from a person who actually had cancer.

Wasko also conned another person out of $8,000, Gilbert PD said, as part of a scheme in which Wasko claimed her adult daughter had died.

Other scams reportedly included being pregnant, her children being kidnapped, being evicted, and having a kidney infection.

Wasko was arrested on 11 charges in December, after Gilbert PD found more alleged scams Wasko was running.

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She pleaded guilty today to charges of theft, attempted theft, and fraudulent schemes, in an apparent plea agreement.

Wasko’s sentencing is scheduled for May 7.

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