A Las Vegas mom allegedly scammed friends and family out of thousands of dollars and then faked a cancer diagnosis when they tried to get their money back.
Haleigh Knight pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge last month after longtime friend Cydney Fink accused her of scamming her and her family out of $20,000.
Knight had convinced Fink that she was a luxury travel content creator with the Four Seasons and approached her with a fake opportunity for travel and content creation.
'She had asked me with my photography background if I would like to join in on these trips and make content for Four Seasons,' Fink told 3 News Las Vegas.
However, when the trips never came to fruition, Fink confronted Knight and demanded her and her family's money back, which Knight refused because of a contract Fink signed.
'She had claimed that as soon as we would get there, we would get our money back as well as getting paid per trip,' Fink said.
At the same time, Knight had convinced several victims that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—going as far as documenting her fake treatments on TikTok and blaming the illness for why she couldn't keep her promises, according to police.
Police said Knight eventually admitted to faking the diagnosis, using the funds to pay her bills and provide for her children.
Haleigh Knight, who scammed friends and family out of thousands of dollars faked a cancer diagnosis when they tried to claim refunds, according to victims
Rachel Riedel said Knight claimed she had access to exclusive influencer discounts on luxury goods and convinced her to send money for items including a Rolex.
She also admitted to posing as different representative named Beatrice, who helped collaborate the trip plans and cancellations.
Court documents showed the lengths of her deception.
'Haleigh states she faked having cancer so that Cydney and her family, along with Haleigh's family, would feel guilty and more inclined to love and be around her if she claimed she was sick,' the documents said.
Screenshots of text messages shared by Fink showed Knight admitting to her that the diagnosis was fake, police said.
Suzanne Duroy, an oncologist and breast cancer survivor, said she donated nearly $1,000 in gift cards and presents to the GoFundMe and even spent hours consoling Knight on the phone.
Rachel Riedel, who employed Knight at a surgery center, said she was also targeted by the scheme.
Riedel said Knight claimed she had access to exclusive influencer discounts on luxury goods and convinced her to send money for items including a Rolex.
'The next day, she stopped coming to work at the surgery center after I sent her money for the Rolex,' Riedel told 3 News Las Vegas.
Riedel said she later contacted MD Anderson to donate toward Knight’s supposed treatment, only to be told the hospital had no record of her.
Knight went as far as documenting her fake treatments on TikTok and blaming the illness for why she couldn't keep her promises, according to police.
Knight is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.
Under Nevada law, she faces between one and five years in prison for the felony theft charge, though prosecutors have not opposed the possibility of probation.
Her plea agreement requires her to pay $19,787.12 in restitution, and if she completes probation and repays the full amount, she could be allowed to withdraw her plea and instead be convicted of misdemeanor theft with credit for time served.