A Chula Vista woman accused of faking cancer and pocketing thousands of dollars in donations has pleaded guilty, NBC 7 confirmed Wednesday.
Meaghan Hudson faced charges of theft by deception and grand theft because investigators say she claimed to have cancer and accepted thousands of dollars in donations from strangers, family and friends for more than a year.
On April 30, Hudson pleaded guilty and received three years of probation.
Hudson shared details of chemo treatment and even shaved her head after announcing in the summer of 2013 that she has multiple myeloma, and chances for survival were low, according to her step-mother who lives in Texas.
Hudson's parents started an online fundraiser that garnered $5,000 in support. Her family has since repaid about half of the people who donated.
One longtime friend said she helped with fundraisers and even joined a group that got tattoos to show their support for Hudson.
In April, Hudson stood outside a Southern California courthouse Monday as her attorney described his client as "very remorseful."
“This was simply not just an act of greed or anything like that,” attorney Dan Smith said. “There is a story that’s something that everybody could probably learn from.”
“I just think it was a lie that got out of hand, “ Chula Vista Police Lieutenant Fritz Reber told NBC 7 in April.
