Rachel Dolezal Booked And Released From Jail On Welfare Fraud Charges

After unconfirmed claims of alleged hate crimes, years of cultural appropriation and federal fraud, it looks like Rachel Dolezal’s plan to play black has officially backfired. 

It all started back in 2015 when Dolezal’s white parents outed her as a white woman passing as black, following their daughter’s claims that she’d been a victim of several hate crimes. At the time, Dolezal had just resigned from her position as the president of the NAACP chapter in Spokane, Washington, amid suspicions she had lied about the crimes. After further investigation into the claims, officials were unable to find evidence to support Dolezal’s allegations, which ignited waves of public scrutiny. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Despite the backlash, Dolezal didn’t shy away from her scam. Just months later in an televised interview, Dolezal revealed that she was born white, but still identified as black.

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From there, she carried on the charade by changing her name, explaining her “transracial” identity in a memoir, and claiming to be financially unstable to receive welfare. 

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But now, Dolezal’s scam has officially come to an end, as the white woman could face up to 15 years in prison for misusing public assistance. In fact, Dolezal has been charged with first degree theft by welfare fraud, making false verifications and second degree perjury for receiving almost $9k in food and childcare assistance since August 2015. 

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Although Dolezal pleaded not guilty, she was still ordered to turn herself in to be booked and released. Her trial is set for September 10.