Pennsylvania “con artist” who faked cancer diagnosis, stole from patient’s families sentenced
BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – A Pennsylvania woman who faked a cancer diagnosis and stole from the families of women she cared for has been sentenced to jail time.
Shannon Lynn Eberhart of Bensalem was sentenced to 12-24 months in county jail after pleading guilty to charges including financial exploitation of an older adult or care dependent person, identity theft, and access device fraud.
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Eberhart will also serve 11 years on probation, pay $32,835 in restitution, undergo various treatments, and never work as a caregiver again.
Eberhart was initially charged in February 2023 after an investigation by Newtown Township Police found she stole jewelry and cash from women whom she worked for as a caretaker. The investigation also found she made unauthorized withdrawals from a victim’s bank account.
The case was scheduled for pre-trial conference multiple times, but in December 2023 the District Attorney’s office received a medical document from Eberhart’s public defender that appeared to be from a Montgomery County hospital. The document claimed Eberhart had stage 4 esophageal cancer and needed treatment.
Detectives contacted two doctors named in the letter who both said they never treated Eberhart or authored the letter. The hospital also confirmed the letter was fake and contained inaccuracies, including the fact that neither doctor named worked at the hospital and contained the wrong logo.
Judge Gary Gilman called Eberhart’s actions “despicable and unfathomable.”
“You are nothing but a con artist who deceived the people who cared for you,” he said. “You betrayed every cancer patient, you betrayed the court system, you betrayed your attorney,” said Gilman, who questioned whether Eberhart’s courtroom tears were real, or just another of her deceptions.
During victim impact statements one of the families said they grieved with Eberhart and gave her flowers when she claimed her mother had died. The District Attorney’s office says Eberhart’s mother was in the courtroom for sentencing.
“Shannon’s actions here are unforgivable,” one of the victims said. “These pieces of jewelry tell stories of my family, past and present, and can never be replaced.”
These cases were investigated by Detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Newtown Township Police Department and Warminster Township Police Department. They were prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Marc J. Furber, Chief of Insurance Fraud and Economic Crimes.
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