FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
November 30, 2017
Steve Marshall
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG MARSHALL ANNOUNCES SHELBY COUNTY WOMAN SENTENCED BY STATE
COURT AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO FRAUDULENTLY SOLICITING DONATIONS
WHILE FAKING CANCER
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that Jennifer Flynn Cataldo, of
Sterrett, pleaded guilty in Shelby County Circuit Court Thursday to two counts of first-degree
theft of property by deception for fraudulently soliciting $38,080 from two GoFundMe accounts
while falsely claiming to have cancer. She was sentenced to serve two years in prison.
Under the sentencing, Cataldo will serve two years for each count, running concurrently. Her
state prison sentence will also run concurrent with her federal prison sentence of more than 25
months, handed down by a U.S. District Court on November 8, 2017.
“Those who prey upon the charitable intentions of good Samaritans not only do a tremendous
disservice to those truly in need but also betray the trust of the community,” said Attorney
General Steve Marshall. “This sentence should send a strong signal to others who may harbor
similar intentions of deceiving the public’s generosity that there will be a price to pay for
breaking the law.”
On April 13, 2017, the Attorney General’s Office began conducting a joint investigation with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation into Cataldo’s solication of donations. The investigation of
Cataldo centered around her use of two online GoFundMe fundraising campaigns through
which she received more than $38,000 from donors wishing to assist her with medical bills and
a family vacation to Disney. The investigation of Cataldo uncovered that her claim of having
terminal cancer was false. With the assistance of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Cataldo was
arrested May 4, 2017, on warrants from the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s
Office also assisted the U.S. Attorney’s Office in their investigation which led to a separate
guilty plea and sentencing earlier this month.
Attorney General Marshall thanked the Attorney General’s Office Investigations Division as
well as Assistant Attorney General Brittney Bucak of the Criminal Trials Division for their hard
work in this case. Attorney General Marshall further expressed appreciation to representatives
of GoFundMe for their assistance in the investigation. He also thanked the Shelby County
Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office North
District of Alabama for their close cooperation in this case.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
