BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – A Pennsylvania girl who faked a most cancers prognosis and stole from the households of girls she cared for has been sentenced to jail time.
Shannon Lynn Eberhart of Bensalem was sentenced to 12-24 months in county jail after pleading responsible to expenses together with monetary exploitation of an older grownup or care dependent particular person, identification theft, and entry machine fraud.
Eberhart may even serve 11 years on probation, pay $32,835 in restitution, bear numerous therapies, and by no means work as a caregiver once more.
Eberhart was initially charged in February 2023 after an investigation by Newtown Township Police discovered she stole jewellery and money from girls whom she labored for as a caretaker. The investigation additionally discovered she made unauthorized withdrawals from a sufferer’s checking account.
The case was scheduled for pre-trial convention a number of occasions, however in December 2023 the District Legal professional’s workplace obtained a medical doc from Eberhart’s public defender that gave the impression to be from a Montgomery County hospital. The doc claimed Eberhart had stage 4 esophageal most cancers and wanted remedy.
Detectives contacted two medical doctors named within the letter who each mentioned they by no means handled Eberhart or authored the letter. The hospital additionally confirmed the letter was pretend and contained inaccuracies, together with the truth that neither physician named labored on the hospital and contained the mistaken brand.
Choose Gary Gilman known as Eberhart’s actions “despicable and unfathomable.”
“You’re nothing however a con artist who deceived the individuals who cared for you,” he mentioned. “You betrayed each most cancers affected person, you betrayed the courtroom system, you betrayed your lawyer,” mentioned Gilman, who questioned whether or not Eberhart’s courtroom tears had been actual, or simply one other of her deceptions.
Throughout sufferer impression statements one of many households mentioned they grieved with Eberhart and gave her flowers when she claimed her mom had died. The District Legal professional’s workplace says Eberhart’s mom was within the courtroom for sentencing.
“Shannon’s actions listed here are unforgivable,” one of many victims mentioned. “These items of knickknack inform tales of my household, previous and current, and might by no means get replaced.”
These circumstances had been investigated by Detectives with the Bucks County District Legal professional’s Workplace, Newtown Township Police Division and Warminster Township Police Division. They had been prosecuted by Deputy District Legal professional Marc J. Furber, Chief of Insurance coverage Fraud and Financial Crimes.
