Pennsylvania beauty queen Brandy Weaver-Gates was arrested on Tuesday and charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property, CNN affiliate WJAC reports.
The now former Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International from Bellefonte, Pa. has been accused of faking a cancer diagnosis in order to raise money for false medical bills and treatments.
Per court docs obtained by WJAC, Weaver-Gates told people she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. State Police Investigator Thomas Stock told the local station that she does not have the disease and called her deception "an elaborate scheme."
Stock said Weaver-Gates was able to pull off the stunt by having family members drive her to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and telling them to wait in the lobby while she went to another part of the facility and waited for hours in order to appear as if she received a treatment. He added that she would also shave her head to look like a patient.
Police said a number of fundraisers were held to raise money for the Weaver-Gates' treatments with the most recent raising $14,000.
The case came to authorities attention by way of an anonymous letter, Stock told WJAC, adding that the letter said Weaver-Gates could not name any of her doctors.
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Following her arrest, the Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International organization released a statement to E! News.
"Butler's Beauties is deeply saddened of this news of Miss Brandi Weaver-Gates. With being personally touched by cancer in our family, we donated and supported her as well as. Miss Weaver-Gates actions are not tolerated and unacceptable not just as a public figure but as a person..." the statement read. "We take seriously representing the state,and the legacy of Miss U.S. International. We forgive her, wish her well in the future even though is no longer a representative of the Miss PENNSYLVANIA U.S. International organization."
A post on the organization's website also stated that "Ms. Weaver-Gates is no longer a representative of the Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International organization and will be required to return her crown and sash upon her release from being detained."
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