Cancer Fraud back in the news

Milagros Lay did not show up for her sentence of community work, consequently must comply to the original sentence in prison.

Milagros Lay was sentenced to 5 years in prison after advertising and receiving donations for impersonating a cancer patient. The sentence was then changed to do community work in the Municipality of San Miguelito

Lay’s defense attorney, has two days to file his appeal.

The judge’s decision is based on the fact that, according to him, Lay has not complied with the terms established for the community work.

On May 10, the Judicial Body reported that a judge had validated a penalty agreement between the prosecutor’s office and Lay, for which she was sentenced to 60 months in prison for the crime of fraud.

But due to an agreement, she could pay that sentence by doing community work in the San Miguelito Municipality.

On April 17, 2017, the National Cancer Institute warned that Lay - who at least since 2016, publicly, said she was a cancer patient to collect funds - had never been treated by  doctors.

Before this penalty agreement, Lay had the precautionary measure of signing on the 15th of each month and impeding her from leaving the country.