Toronto Man Charged With Faking Cancer
Posted November 19, 2010 6:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Toronto man has been arrested and charged with faking cancer.
Toronto Police allege the fraud began in September 2008 when the accused, Christopher Gordon, 39, allegedly told his friends he had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. His friends then organized a fundraiser, which took place in October 2009.
Gordon allegedly spent the $3000 that was raised at the event and in November 2010, he allegedly confessed, and told his friends and family he had lied about his illness, writing on his Facebook page:
“Two years ago I announced to the world that I had terminal cancer, which I didn’t have. I wanted to say ‘goodbye’ to a few friends and then disappear…I’m sorry to all my friends and I will make up the damage I caused however I can if it be financial, emotional, or other.”
His friends contacted police.
“We were contacted by friends of his who participated in organizing a fund-raiser,” revealed Det. Cst. Jason Hunter. “They believed that he had cancer at the time and he alleged that he had a terminal brain tumour.”
When asked about his past, Cst. Hunter added, “I will say he is known to police and I will leave it at that.”
Gordon has been charged with fraud under $5000.
It’s the third similar event to make headlines in the past year. The two previous incidents involved young women.
Twenty-one-year-old Ann Leeder pleaded guilty in Timmins to defrauding her workplace of over $5,000.
In a separate case, 23-year-old Ashley Kirilow also pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000. She faces six more counts.
