Police in North Dakota arrested a woman they say was involved in a Make-a-Wish scam. Facing white collar crimes charges for forgery, false information and misleading or fraudulent communications, she posted bond and is no longer in police custody. The Make-a-Wish Foundation claims that it did not have any record of the woman’s campaign.
The 33-year-old woman allegedly forged a false Make-a-Wish Foundation in order to secure funding for a new playground in her area. She is reportedly a member of her city’s park board, although she will possibly be removed from her position in light of the recent criminal charges. The campaign was supposedly to fulfill the wish of a child who was suffering from a significant medical condition. The existence of the child in question has yet to be confirmed.
Police first learned of the campaign when the woman contacted the authorities regarding a fake Facebook account. According to her, the fake account was trying to solicit money for the campaign without her express consent. Afterwards, authorities discovered that the Make-a-Wish contract she had presented to the city was allegedly fraudulent.
She charged with two counts for forgery and single counts of fraudulent communications and false information. Of these, three are categorized as C felonies. These types of white collar crimes often carry significant criminal consequences, including hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences. As such, most defendants in North Dakota are well advised to begin working on their criminal defenses in as timely a manner as possible. It is possible to do so even if the criminal investigation is still ongoing.
