Ex-CEO of San Diego Cancer Charity Begins Jail Sentence for Stealing Thousands of Dollars From Children

The woman convicted of stealing money raised for local children battling cancer began her jail sentence in February, after months of delays.

The woman convicted of stealing money raised for local children battling cancer began her jail sentence in February, after months of delays. 

Deputy District Attorney Victor Barr told NBC 7 Investigates Brianna King, the former CEO of the non-profit WishWarriors, started her sentence after a court hearing on February 28. 

The district attorney’s office opened a criminal investigation into King after an NBC 7 Investigates story revealed children profiled by the charity never received the donations they were promised. 

King pleaded guilty to grand theft charges in 2015 but a judge delayed her jail sentence four times after King requested the sentence be delayed, citing health concerns surrounding her newborn baby. 

Barr told NBC 7 Investigates King asked the judge at the February 28 court hearing for another delay but her request was denied and King was taken into custody. 

According to prosecutors, King would solicit items and gift cards from stores as donations to auction off at fundraisers but instead, would use them herself. King would also spend donation money at hair salons, spas and on car payments and other personal bills, according to prosecutors. 

King was sentenced to serve a year in prison and the judge in her case added an additional 45 days to her sentence, stemming from the delays. When her sentence is complete King will be on probation for five years. In addition, King has been ordered to continue making restitution payments for what she stole from the charity. 

In an email, Barr told NBC 7 Investigates, β€œsince December 2015 to Feb 28 she had paid $1,600 total toward her restitution balance of $8,431 leaving a new balance of about $6,800.”

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