Crime & Safety

Montgomery County Woman Stole Over $10,000 In Cancer Charity Scam: DA

DA: suspect used a fraudulent fundraiser to pay for purchases Target, Toys R Us, McDonald's, Rite Aid and Sunoco.

An East Norriton woman has been busted for allegedly stealing over $10,000 through a fradulent cancer fundraiser campaign online, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

Traci Small Kratzer started an online fundraiser at www.youcaring.com with the headline, “Help Jay Henson (Deven Eberz husband) beat Cancer!!!!”, the DA said.

The fundraiser was advertised across Facebook and social media, and between May 17 and July 15, 2015, 90 deposits and donations were made, according to the DA.

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The deposits totaled $10,221.68 and were filtered directly to Kratzer’s Wells Fargo bank account, according to the DA.

Kratzer used the funds to make purchases Target, Toys R Us, McDonald’s, Rite Aid, and Sunoco, the DA said.

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Henson is a real person who is actually suffering from cancer. Henson’s wife, Deven, repeatedly asked Kratzer for campaign account information but Kratzer always gave her excuses why she could not provide it, according to the DA.

“This theft has had a great impact on the Henson family,” Ferman said. “The District Attorney’s Office will seek restitution in the case.”

Anyone willing to help out financially can do so by making donations to the Henson family at www.myjaybird.com.

A preliminary hearing is set for September 10.

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