Iowa woman who made fake cancer claims on social media must pay restitution but stays out of prison

This photo provided by the Scott County Jail shows Madison Russo. Russo, an Iowa woman who falsely claimed to have cancer and documented her “battle” on social media will stay out of prison after a judge gave her probation and a suspended sentence. (Scott County Jail via AP)

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa woman who falsely claimed to have cancer will stay out of prison after a judge gave her probation and a suspended sentence.

Twenty-year-old Madison Russo never had pancreatic cancer, leukemia nor the football-sized tumor wrapped around her spine she that claimed in postings on TikTok, GoFundMe, Facebook and LinkedIn. But over 400 people sent her donations.

As part of the 10-year suspended sentence handed down Friday, she was ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution and a $1,370 fine.

She apologized in court and said she didn’t do it to get money, but to pull her troubled family together.