KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former church bookkeeper who faked having cancer to avoid going to prison for embezzlement has pleaded guilty to the deception.
The Knoxville New Sentinel (http://bit.ly/PLkUvw ) reported Angela Elwood pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Knoxville to obstruction of justice. Sentencing will be Jan. 14.
A plea deal was brokered in which Elwood agreed to confess to presenting fake medical documents to the court in seeking a delay of sentence on the theft conviction.
Court records showed thefts from the Jefferson City Christian Church spanned two years and totaled more than $218,000, beginning in January 2004.
When Elwood was sentenced to two years in prison, she faked having breast cancer and asked for her term to be delayed. Her ruse was discovered and she was sent to prison.
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Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com
