Nevada woman ‘very sneakily’ cons thousands from ‘chemo angel’ over fake cancer diagnosis: ‘Heartbroken for her’

A Nevada woman who admitted faking a pancreatic cancer diagnosis to solicit sympathy and money from friends, family, and supporters has pleaded guilty to felony theft after prosecutors said she scammed more than $20,000 through the deception. The bogus cancer diagnosis was just one strand in the web of lies she built.

In March, Haleigh Morgan Knight entered a guilty plea in Clark County court as part of a deal that could eventually reduce her conviction to a misdemeanor if she completes probation and pays restitution, according to court records and local reports. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Prosecutors said Knight falsely claimed she was battling pancreatic cancer and used the fabricated diagnosis between June 2023 and April 2024 to persuade multiple people to donate money, gift cards, and other support.

It started with a “Four Season Hotel trip advisor” scam

Knight primarily defrauded her victims—including a long-time high school friend—by claiming she was a “trip advisor” for Four Seasons Hotels. She convinced people to send her money for luxury vacations and “influencer opportunities” that never existed.

According to police reports and victim statements, Knight faked the pancreatic cancer diagnosis specifically after victims began asking for their money back. One victim, LeAnn Fink, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal she believed the cancer story was a tactic to “take our attention off of her and the refunds.”

While she admitted to faking the illness to gain sympathy and used it on GoFundMe, the felony theft charge specifically focused on the money she took from personal acquaintances under the guise of travel and business opportunities.

Knight’s ‘chemo angel’ heartbroken

Among those deceived was a breast cancer survivor who became Knight’s self-described “chemo angel,” sending her nearly $1,000 in gift cards and presents while believing she was helping a terminally ill patient. The woman later said she was “heartbroken” upon learning the diagnosis had been fabricated.

Several other victims told local media they were less upset about the money than about being manipulated into caring for someone they believed was gravely ill.

The fake cancer story unraveled

Investigators said Knight was ultimately caught after inconsistencies in her story mounted and people close to her began comparing notes.

According to police documents cited by local media, text messages and other communications showed Knight admitting she invented the illness and “very sneakily” manipulated others into believing she was sick because she wanted sympathy and emotional support.

Prosecutors said she also acknowledged posing as other individuals online to further the scheme.

As part of the plea agreement, Knight must repay $19,787.12 in restitution to victims. If she satisfies the court’s conditions, including restitution and probation, she may be allowed to withdraw her felony plea and instead plead guilty to misdemeanor theft.

The case has drawn renewed attention to a disturbing pattern of so-called “cancer fraud” cases in which defendants fabricate serious illnesses to exploit donors’ goodwill. Similar schemes in recent years have involved fake cancer fundraisers, bogus medical crowdfunding campaigns, and staged social media posts designed to attract donations from sympathetic strangers.

Legal experts and fraud investigators have repeatedly warned donors to verify online fundraisers before contributing, particularly when campaigns involve unverifiable medical claims or are organized outside established charitable channels.

While crowdfunding has become a critical resource for many families facing genuine medical crises, fraud cases such as Knight’s have caused concerns about abuse of those platforms. Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges are expected.