California Woman Faked Cancer for Years, Scammed Donors Out of $100K

FORT WORTH, Texas — Amanda Riley, a 39-year-old California woman, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for faking a cancer diagnosis and scamming donors out of more than $100,000 over eight years, according to court documents and a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Riley, who claimed to have Hodgkin’s lymphoma, documented her fabricated battle with cancer on social media and blogs, sharing staged photos of herself undergoing treatment. She hosted fundraisers and solicited donations, convincing hundreds of people to contribute to her non-existent medical expenses. The scheme unraveled when investigators discovered she had forged medical records and staged treatment photos.

“Amanda Riley was faking cancer and scamming on an even larger scale,” said Lisa Berry, a former friend of Riley, in a victim impact statement. Berry and her husband had donated money to Riley, only to later suspect the funds were misused.

Riley’s stepdaughter, Jessa Gonzalez, also delivered a victim impact statement, describing the emotional toll of Riley’s deception. “My hair is falling out from severe stress, and some days I can’t physically function because of how bad she has scarred me,” Gonzalez said.

In October 2021, Riley pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. She was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $105,000 to her victims. At her sentencing hearing in May 2022, Riley expressed remorse, saying, “My heart aches every day, thinking that I did something that hurt other people.”

U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, who presided over the case, noted the impact of Riley’s actions on her family. “It breaks my heart to think that your boys … will not have their mother with them,” Freeman said during sentencing.

Riley began serving her sentence at the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. Her release date is set for Dec. 4, 2025, according to her inmate record. She will also undergo a three-year period of supervision after her release.

The case has since gained national attention, with a four-part documentary titled “Scamanda” premiering on ABC News and Hulu. The series explores how Riley orchestrated her elaborate scheme and includes interviews with victims and investigators.

Riley’s ex-husband, Cory Riley, filed for divorce in January 2024, according to court documents. The filing stated that Cory Riley was living in Texas at the time.

In June 2024, Riley sought a reduction of her sentence, citing medical issues. However, her request was denied after evidence suggested she was once again feigning illness.