Former Miss Pennsylvania U.S International, Brandi Lee Weaver-Gates, 24, was sentenced to two to four years in prison and five years of probation on Tuesday (July 26) after lying about having cancer.
In March 2013, Weaver-Gates told her friends and family that she had leukemia. In an effort to help, the family raised money and supported her throughout her supposed treatment. However, relatives grew suspicious when the former beauty queen wanted to attend chemotherapy treatments by herself.
Once Weaver-Gates’ hair grew back after shaving it off, apprehensive family members contacted the hospital, where she claimed to be receiving treatment, to find no records of Gates being a patient or having cancer.
Gates, who was initially charged in August, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property, CNN reports. She admitted to raising over $300,000 and scamming 150 people, some of which had cancer themselves. Gates was revoked of her title as Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International and the organization demanded she return her crown and sash.
