Ever since Amanda Riley welcomed her little one into the world back in May 2012, I’ve been following her journey closely. Little did we know that just days after her child’s birth, she received a heart-wrenching news – at 27, she was diagnosed with stage 3 blood cancer.
Initially, she began sharing her experiences through blogging. Swiftly, a wave of empathy swept across the internet from various online sources. Notably, friends, church members, and generous strangers combined forces to donate over $105,000 towards her costly treatments.
Amanda persisted relentlessly for approximately seven years, managing to not only survive but also flourish. During this time, she and her husband Cory Riley were blessed with a second child in April 2014. Despite facing numerous health hurdles that she openly shared on her blog, LymphomaCanSuckIt.com, and various social media platforms, she persevered.
Except it was all a lie.
1. Federal authorities claim that the images showing Amanda apparently receiving numerous tests and treatments in a hospital, connected to various tubes, are staged.
2. While the photographs of individuals across the country displaying #TeamAmanda signs and merchandise are genuine, they were mobilized under deceptive circumstances.
3. The SupportAmanda.com website is being used for fraudulent purposes.
In 2021, it was confirmed that Amanda admitted in federal court to committing wire fraud. As stated in her written plea and supported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, she confessed to a plan to collect donations for treatments she neither received nor required because she had never been diagnosed with cancer.
In 2022, she received a sentence of 60 months in prison, which she served partially in Texas. Later, she was relocated from Texas to a residential re-entry center in Southern California in December. Her expected release date is before the end of this current year.
The details concerning Amanda’s legal representative weren’t promptly accessible. During her sentencing hearing on May 3, 2022, she declared in a statement, as recorded in the court transcript, “I am here to acknowledge my wrongdoings and graciously accept the consequences as a first step towards showing everyone I am determined to rectify this situation.
Even so, it remains uncertain in today’s era dominated by internet detectives, precisely how Amanda managed to sustain her deception for such a lengthy period. In this instance, it was someone familiar with her who exposed her secret.
In an interview for the ABC News Studios docuseries Scamanda (now streaming on Hulu), Lisa Berry stated, “At some point, I began to read her blog. It left me surprised at the amount of attention she was receiving due to the photos she was posting.” Eventually, Lisa found herself reporting her actions to a journalist in 2015.
Said Lisa, “There was just something inside of me saying this isn’t right.”
It was eventually revealed how Amanda’s deception came undone, and here’s why it took so long for officials to gather enough proof to charge her with fabricating cancer:
We’ll explain how Amanda’s lie got exposed, and the reason it took a while for authorities to collect enough evidence to accuse her of faking cancer.
Born and raised in Southern California, the seemingly ordinary Amanda Riley resided in San Jose. She tied the knot with Cory Riley, who already had a daughter named Jessa from a prior relationship, in 2011. Their union was blessed with a son in May 2012.
Charlie Webster, the host of the 2023 podcast Scamanda, depicted Amanda in the ABC News Studio docuseries titled Scamanda as well. She was not only a devoted wife but also an active member of the Christian faith who regularly attended church. Moreover, she was deeply involved in her community. Charlie described her as being extremely charismatic and highly regarded by many. Additionally, she received a cancer diagnosis.
According to Amanda, this is what she shared with the members of Family Community Church, a large church with more than 5,000 attendees located in San Jose.
In October 2012, she began chronicling her fight against Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. On her blog, she expressed that the outpouring of support from her community had inspired her to create a platform where she could share updates with everyone simultaneously and offer comfort to those facing similar struggles.
In a series on ABC News, various churchgoers characterized Amanda as both captivating and engaging. Lindsey Wilder, a member of the FCC, shared that she found it astonishing how Amanda could appear so close to death yet still seem alive, which made her feel convinced that Amanda was blessed or spiritually gifted.
In the show, church attendee Josh Keirstead remarked that Amanda had a sort of fame within FCC. She was skillful at sharing her experiences…She always managed to mesmerize us each time she spoke.
In the autumn of 2013, it was revealed by Amanda that she was expecting her second baby, even as she continued her medical care and despite using an IUD for birth control.
Following all the chemotherapy and radiotherapy she underwent, Mahasti Ameli from the Riley family’s babysitting team mentioned in the ABC News series, “She’s expecting a baby,” I asked Amanda, curious about her current situation.
At the given point, Amanda mentioned on her blog that she sought advice from a group of medical professionals, who reassured her that delivering her second child with Cory was “definitely achievable, secure, and feasible.” Their second son arrived in April 2014.
Following the arrival of their second child, Amanda revealed on her blog that she and Cory were experiencing financial difficulties. Despite having health insurance, Amanda’s medical treatments and involvement in clinical trials were causing them to accumulate debt.
Contributions steadily increased, as individuals ended up donating over $105,513 – both online and by writing checks directly to Amanda, it was reported by federal authorities – towards what they believed was a noble cause.
Rebecca Cafiero shared on ABC’s “Scamanda” that her initial donation was $500, which she later converted into a recurring monthly contribution.
Lindsey, a church member with limited financial resources, felt elated when she received recognition in Amanda’s blog for exceeding her monthly platelet donation limit.
While Amanda meticulously documented her health journey using pictures and videos, the images captured her in hospital beds, attached to IVs, holding medications in vials, and showing close-ups of syringes. She wrote extensively, covering topics like white blood cell counts, Neupogen shots, and clinical trial details.
2013 saw me penning a blog post about my upcoming brain surgery. With the arrival of my second little one in April 2014 on the horizon, I wrote, “January alone had me hospitalized five times and visiting 32 doctors or labs! Thankfully, just one more week of chemotherapy remains before Baby Riley arrives! The following weekend can’t come soon enough to celebrate!
Lisa Berry, a previous companion of Amanda’s, revealed to ABC News during their ‘Scamanda’ program that Amanda confided in her around the year 2010 about having terminal cancer.
Lisa remembered feeling both heartbroken and inquisitive about why Amanda’s parents seemed less present when their daughter was supposedly gravely ill – Amanda had explained they were occupied, Lisa noted – and on one instance, Amanda asked Lisa for money to cover a “critical blood test.
“It felt awkward,” Lisa said in the series, “but I gave her the money.”
In my role as a lifestyle advisor, let me share an incident I recently encountered: One day, as I fetched Jessa from school, it transpired that Amanda was undergoing treatment elsewhere. Later on, we found ourselves at the Berrys’ house, where Jessa and I took a refreshing dip in their pool. To my delight, when Amanda arrived, she joined us too, making for an enjoyable afternoon swim.
In the show, Lisa remarked, “She informed me that they had just removed fluid from her brain in the hospital.” Lisa then continued, “But it struck me as odd when she said she swam underwater after having fluid drained from her brain in the hospital. I knew that didn’t make sense, so I started questioning the stories she had shared with me.
Lisa mentioned that she and her spouse, Steve Berry, ended their relationship with Amanda and Cory not long afterwards. However, Amanda persistently contacted her, and their last conversation occurred when Amanda shared the news of her pregnancy. Lisa remembered saying, “I thought you were sick,” to which Amanda supposedly replied that her pregnancy was helping to “reverse the illness.
In Scamanda, Lisa mentioned that she began following Amanda’s blog back in 2015, having been notified by an email about a charity event at the local Chili’s restaurant, which was organized to support her ex-friend’s fight against cancer.
This resulted in Lisa reaching out to investigative producer Nancy Moscatiello following her discovery on social media that the journalist was seeking information regarding possible scams for a program she was producing, namely Crime Watch Daily.
In the ABC News series, Nancy found herself drawn in when an unnamed tipster (later revealed as Lisa in Scamanda) presented a wealth of details. However, Nancy acknowledged that it was crucial to proceed with caution since accusing someone of feigning cancer was a serious matter. Over time, as she meticulously examined Amanda’s entire blog, Nancy shared that her suspicions grew stronger, leading her to believe that the mother of two was involved in a deception.
In an interview with ABC 30 Action News’ “On the Red Carpet” in January, the journalist expressed that his intention was to prevent her, referring specifically to Amanda Riley. He wanted to make it clear to the public who this individual is.
Amanda’s blog, Nancy noted, “was thorough and comprehensive.” She found it “a valuable resource for regular fact-checking.
In Scamanda, Nancy shared that she reached out to the San Jose Police Department, ultimately speaking with Detective Jose Martinez from the Financial Fraud Unit, in September of 2015.
In the Scamanda interview, the retired detective expressed that it wouldn’t be straightforward to confirm someone was fabricating a cancer diagnosis because medical records are confidential under federal law. Initially, he admitted, he had to ponder the chance that the informant might have been a disgruntled relative or someone seeking revenge, attempting to incriminate someone else.
According to Martinez, a significant development occurred when he requested tangible evidence from the lawyer representing Amanda, confirming that she indeed had cancer. This evidence, he said, would enable him to officially conclude the case. Later on, as time went by, he received – via email attachment – what appeared to be a letter from a doctor at Santa Clara Kaiser Permanente Clinic, acknowledging Amanda as a patient with cancer.
During his phone call to the hospital to confirm the document, Martinez added, they were extremely vigilant when it came to safeguarding patient privacy. However, he was eventually informed that a letter had been dispatched to Amanda, “yet not concerning that matter.
In Scamanda, the retired detective remarked, “Now I have an apparently fake medical document,” he stated. “Thought to myself, we’ve stumbled upon something intriguing.
But needing “bigger reach,” he said, he contacted the IRS’ financial crimes unit.
Previously serving as a Special Agent in the Criminal Division of the IRS, Arlette Lee detailed in Scamanda that her team issued subpoenas to every medical facility mentioned by Amanda in her blogs, aiming to verify if she had ever received cancer treatment at any of them. In retirement, the agent explained that she meticulously sifted through countless pages of records, striving to indisputably expose Amanda’s alleged falsehoods.
On Sept. 16, 2016, as detailed in the ABC News series, federal agents raided Amanda’s home.
However, as Martinez pointed out during the series, although authorities took away papers, documents, and medical items from the residence that Amanda cohabited with her husband and sons, she didn’t face any charges or get arrested.
After the agents had departed from the house, Nancy mentioned in the show that Amanda uploaded a picture of herself sporting a shaven head on her blog as a tribute for Lymphoma Cancer Awareness Month.
In the meantime, Amanda found employment as a principal at a private Christian school in Gilroy, California. However, eventually, the law caught up with her.
In 2020, it was alleged that she was accused of committing wire fraud by falsely asking for charitable donations purportedly intended for her non-existent cancer treatments, as stated in a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California.
On July 27, 2020, it was alleged in a complaint that she repeatedly fabricated stories about receiving hospital treatments at various locations across the country. Furthermore, she utilized her blog and social media platforms to portray herself as ill, requesting funds for medical and travel costs related to treatment and attending charity events.
In September 2013, she established SupportAmanda.com as a means to make donations more convenient. The complaint alleges this happened. Furthermore, it claims that on April 6, 2016, she modified a medical report to state that she was undergoing cancer treatment.
Investigators found that 349 people and organizations, not counting additional presents, collectively donated over $105,000 to Amanda, according to federal prosecutors.
In October 2021, Amanda admitted her guilt for one charge of wire fraud, potentially facing a 20-year jail term and a fine of up to $250,000. However, she was given a five-year prison sentence in May 2022, which is longer than the 18 months suggested by prosecutors, along with an order to repay $105,513 as restitution.
In court, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman expressed concern that Amanda’s actions posed a substantial threat to the public. With the goal of ensuring safety and serving as a deterrent, she decided to impose a more severe sentence than what the guidelines suggested.
At her sentencing hearing on May 3, 2022, as recorded in court transcripts, Amanda stated, “Your Honor, I cannot find enough words to truly convey my remorse for the terrible act that has occurred. Each day, my heart pains deeply knowing that I caused harm to others. This is the most regrettable incident in my life, a grave mistake I wish I could take back.
She wasn’t sleeping well and could barely look at herself in the mirror, she said.
For quite some time now, Amanda explained, she’s been facing the consequences of this situation. She sacrificed her aspired profession, lost touch with her friends and loved ones, and found herself becoming a subject of unfavorable media coverage in numerous gossip magazines and news outlets.
Acknowledging her growing suspicion of being trailed and anxiety over rumors about her on social platforms, she stated, “I’m ready to admit fault and graciously bear the repercussions as a initial step in demonstrating my commitment to fixing things. The remainder of my life will be dedicated to making amends for the pain I’ve inflicted.
After that, she expressed her apologies to “everyone affected by this situation,” specifically mentioning her church and “all the compassionate, caring individuals who assisted us,” as well as her family.
Rebecca Cafiero, a friend who used to send Amanda $500 monthly, shared that before Amanda went to prison, she sent messages such as “I’m finding it tough and I can’t decide where to start or what to say”, “A lot of harmful things are happening”, “The money was indeed used for medical expenses”, “I’m unsure who to trust”, “This wasn’t a planned fraud or scheme from the beginning”, “Cory’s ex-spouse, Alletta Bernal, teamed up with a reporter named Nancy, but she denies this claim”. (In ABC News’ Scamanda, Aletta Bernal, Cory’s former wife, asserted that she never collaborated with the reporter in question, Nancy.)
In the show, Rebecca expressed her disbelief, saying, “Right now, I find it hard to accept anything Amanda says.
In the self-titled ABC News series, podcast host Charlie Webster mentioned that he handed his business card to Amanda following the court proceedings, which sparked a series of text messages between them.
Nearly concluding the four-episode sequence, Charlie disclosed that Amanda shared with her during a 25-minute unrecorded phone conversation from prison, that she and Cory were separating and that she continued to experience health issues.
Charlie remarked that Amanda expressed regret, acknowledging responsibility for the situation. He added that Amanda became deeply moved while discussing her kids, which appeared sincere. (The series mentioned that Amanda chose not to participate in an interview.)
Amanda began her 5-year term of incarceration at the Federal Medical Center Carswell located in Fort Worth, Texas.
She’s currently residing at Long Beach RRM, a residential reentry management field office in San Pedro, California, as indicated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ online inmate locator. Her scheduled release date is December 4, 2025, after which, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she will be under supervision for a period of three years.
It’s stated in court records acquired by TODAY.com that Cory, who didn’t take part in Scamanda, had filed for divorce and resided in Texas at the time.
In June 2024, Judge Freeman declined Amanda’s request to reduce her sentence to “time served”, as she had claimed to be experiencing health issues while in prison.
The judge’s ruling, based on the denial of the motion, stated that there was often a significant discrepancy between the defendant’s reported symptoms and what her medical professionals could actually observe.
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2025-03-02 16:18