Man claiming cancer charged with fraud

1/24/2004

NORWALK - A 20-year-old man who tricked his girlfriend and her parents into thinking he had cancer has been charged with defrauding them of $6,000, authorities said yesterday.

Jacob Thomas, who was being held in the Huron County jail last night, faces charges of grand theft and theft. Prosecutor Russell Leffler said a county grand jury indicted Mr. Thomas earlier this month. Mr. Thomas has since pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor said Mr. Thomas told his then-girlfriend, and later her parents, in 2002 and during the early part of 2003 that he needed money for medical treatment. The scheme was uncovered after the family reported the incidents to police.

“He had a pretty elaborate story,” Mr. Leffler said, without detailing the scheme.