Florida Man Accused of Posing as Breast Cancer Patient to Scam Nonprofits — 'You Can’t Get Much Lower,' Sheriff Says

Law enforcement officials in Florida claimed a suspect has been arrested after he allegedly posed as a cancer patient and defrauded several nonprofit organizations across the country.

According to a press release from Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, a woman in the Tampa area who runs a nonprofit first alerted police about the man months ago.

The woman’s organization reportedly provides money for living expenses while cancer patients receive treatment or are in recovery.

She alleged to investigators that a man allegedly posed as a cancer patient and received $5,000 from her organization.

Detectives identified the individual as 69-year-old Timothy Bartlett, according to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff Chitwood said Bartlett posed as a woman named “Sally Holmes,” who was “out of work and undergoing treatment for breast cancer.”

During the investigation, detectives determined Bartlett allegedly posed as a cancer patient to defraud four other nonprofit organizations as well, located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

All of those nonprofit organizations reportedly provide money for living expenses for breast cancer, ovarian cancer and pediatric cancer patients.

Bartlett was arrested and charged with grand theft, organized scheme to defraud, and failure to appear, Chitwood said.

He was booked into the Volusia County jail, where he was being held on a $20,500 bond.

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"I have seen a lot of morally reprehensible scams in my career, but this has to be one of the worst," Chitwood said.

He added, “This is our scumbag of the week. I mean, you can’t get much lower than this.”