Go Fund Me: Woonsocket Woman Said She Had A Brain Tumor: State Police Say She Didn't

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Woonsocket woman is out on $40,000 personal recognizance bail pending her trial for allegedly fleecing people who contributed to a Go Fund Me account. Alicia Pierini, 35, is accused of telling her family and friends she suffered from a brain tumor or from brain cancer. A Go Fund Me account was started to help her pay medical expenses. People donated about $28,000, either to the fund or directly to her.

But then relatives suspected something was amiss. State Police investigated.

"Detectives confirmed that she had never been a patient of any of the doctors and cancer treatment facilities that she had indicated," police said. They also found probable cause to charge her with fraud. Specifically, she was charged with Obtaining money under false pretenses (over $1,500) and Access to a computer for fraudulent purposes.

Go Fund Me will be reimbursing the individuals, who donated directly to the account, police said.