A woman who falsely claimed to have cancer to fundraise money has been ordered to pay $40,000 but will stay out of prison. Madison Russo, 20, never had pancreatic cancer, leukaemia, or a football-sized tumour wrapped around her spine - despite what she claimed on social media and fundraising pages. The Iowa woman documented her 'battle' with cancer on social media, receiving donations from more than 400 people. She was given probation and a 10-year suspended sentence on Friday.
Police subpoenaed her medical records and found she had never been diagnosed with cancer. She was arrested in January and pleaded guilty in June to first-degree theft. Read more:Judge shot in driveway in 'targeted attack'Three inmates escape same prison in one day Russo told the court she made her story up because she hoped her fake cancer battle would force her troubled family to focus on her.