Medical equipment, vehicle seized from Bettendorf woman charged in cancer scam

BETTENDORF, Iowa (KWQC) – Healthcare tools, lender receipts, a wig, and a car or truck are between the items seized by Eldridge police this week as portion of an investigation into a cancer scam involving a Bettendorf woman, in accordance to newly filed courtroom files.

Courtroom records clearly show law enforcement on Friday obtained a warrant to look for the Bettendorf condominium of Madison Marie Russo.

The 19-yr-aged was arrested Monday on a person rely of first-degree theft, a Class C felony punishable by 10 many years in prison. She was launched from the Scott County Jail the identical working day immediately after a $10,000 funds bond was posted on her behalf.

She will be arraigned on March 2.

According to an affidavit filed in assistance of the search warrant:

All-around 6 p.m. Jan. 11, police acquired a report that Russo experienced taken dollars and donations from more than 439 donors, which integrated firms, countrywide and neighborhood most cancers foundations, school districts, colleges and non-public citizens.

A GoFundMe account raised about $37,303 as of Jan. 19.

Officers figured out Russo had authored numerous social media posts and was a visitor speaker for many organizations, including the OHL Foundation, and St. Ambrose University less than the bogus pretenses that she had been diagnosed with Stage 2 pancreatic most cancers, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had a “football-sized” tumor on her lessen back again that wrapped all over her spine.

However, police famous she was in a position to preserve a 4. GPA, was out in the solar, had a element-time work with John Deere and ongoing to golf.

She also was interviewed by a community newspaper about her cancer journey.

Police learned that in her social media posts, medical pros came ahead to report the “terrible everyday living-threatening inaccuracies” of her health care tools placement on her overall body in the pics she shared.

It appeared these images were taken from inside of her apartment and not in a health care business.

Police also identified that some of the pictures shared on social media have been taken from cancer patients’ social media webpages.

Health care records taken from Genesis, Trinity and Iowa City’s Stead Family Children’s Clinic confirmed that while Russo was a affected individual, she was hardly ever treated for any cancers or tumors, in accordance to the affidavit.

Court docket data display law enforcement seized a number of products from Russo’s apartment, including:

A grey 2023 Kia Sportage
A brown paper bag with clinical materials
Lender documents
An IV pole with a feeding pump stuffed with cotton balls
2 bins of clear dressing
A wig
Hard cash
Supplements for nausea in the name of a relative

A single lady who donated to the GoFundMe for Russo mentioned she acquired an electronic mail Tuesday from the crowdfunding site that she would get back again her cash in 3 to seven business enterprise days.

“I did not truly have text when my close friend despatched me the hyperlink and claimed ‘hey didn’t you donate to this?’” the lady said. “I didn’t donate that a lot but you do what you can and you’re just shocked. I hope the people in the foundations that donated get their funds again and they can give it to another person with an genuine prognosis.”

In a assertion produced Tuesday, “GoFundMe has a zero-tolerance coverage for misuse of our platform and cooperates with law enforcement investigations of those accused of wrongdoing.

“GoFundMe’s Offering Assurance provides donors a complete refund in the exceptional case when one thing isn’t suitable this is the initial and only donor safety ensure in the fundraising marketplace. Donors can file a declare right here: hwww.gofundme.com/contact/propose/donor.”

Television6 has reached out to Russo for comment but has not nevertheless listened to back.

clarification: The look for warrant cited in this story mentioned that Russo was a visitor speaker for the National Pancreatic Cancer Basis. In accordance to the group, “We can ensure the particular person in query has experienced no call with the
National Pancreatic Cancer Basis and has never spoken at any of our situations.”