FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
May 5, 2017
Steven T. Marshall
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 2
AG MARSHALL ANNOUNCES ARREST FOR THEFT OF MORE
THAN $38,000 BY SHELBY COUNTY WOMAN WHO CLAIMED TO
BE DYING AND FRAUDULENTLY SOLICITED DONATIONS
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Steven T. Marshall announced the arrest
yesterday of a Shelby County woman for two counts of first-degree theft by deception
of at least $38,000. Jennifer Flynn Cataldo, 37, of Sterrett, was arrested and taken to the
Shelby County Jail, with a $50,000 bond on each count.
The joint federal and state investigation is continuing, and the Attorney
General’s Office urges anyone with information or who may be a possible victim of
Cataldo to contact the Criminal Trials Division by calling 334-353-1875.
On April 13, 2017, the Attorney General’s Office began conducting a joint investigation
with the Federal Bureau of Investigation into Cataldo. 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 fundraising campaigns identified Cataldo as
a terminal cancer patient. The investigation of Cataldo has uncovered that her claim of
having terminal cancer was in fact not true. It is believed that Cataldo acted alone
in the scheme.
With the assistance of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Cataldo was arrested
yesterday afternoon on warrants from the Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General
Marshall thanked representatives of GoFundMe for their vigilance and
cooperation in this matter.
No additional information concerning this matter may be released at this time
due to the ongoing nature of this investigation. The case is expected to be prosecuted
by the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division.
Please see photos on next page.
*A warrant is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us Page 2 of 2
Jennifer Flynn Cataldo mugshot
Photo of GoFundMe page
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