Florida Man Accused of Posing as Breast Cancer Patient to Scam Nonprofits — 'You Can’t Get Much Lower,' Sheriff Says
![Florida Man Accused of Faking Cancer to Defraud Multiple Nonprofits](https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/480x251/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 480w, https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/640x335/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 640w, https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/768x402/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 768w, https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/1024x536/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 1024w, https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/1280x670/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 1280w, https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/1440x753/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 1440w, https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/1600x837/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 1600w, https://media.frontpagedetectives.com/brand-img/nh44Liodu/2160x1130/man-posed-breast-cancer-patient-scam-nonprofits-florida-1717695658567.jpg 2160w)
Timothy Bartlett is accused of posing as a breast cancer patient to scam thousands from nonprofits.
June 7 2024, Published 2:01 p.m. ET
Law enforcement officials in Florida claimed a suspect has been arrested after he allegedly posed as a cancer patient and defrauded several nonprofit organizations across the country.
According to a press release from Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, a woman in the Tampa area who runs a nonprofit first alerted police about the man months ago.
The woman’s organization reportedly provides money for living expenses while cancer patients receive treatment or are in recovery.
She alleged to investigators that a man allegedly posed as a cancer patient and received $5,000 from her organization.
Detectives identified the individual as 69-year-old Timothy Bartlett, according to the sheriff's office.
Sheriff Chitwood said Bartlett posed as a woman named “Sally Holmes,” who was “out of work and undergoing treatment for breast cancer.”
During the investigation, detectives determined Bartlett allegedly posed as a cancer patient to defraud four other nonprofit organizations as well, located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
All of those nonprofit organizations reportedly provide money for living expenses for breast cancer, ovarian cancer and pediatric cancer patients.
Bartlett was arrested and charged with grand theft, organized scheme to defraud, and failure to appear, Chitwood said.
He was booked into the Volusia County jail, where he was being held on a $20,500 bond.
Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.
"I have seen a lot of morally reprehensible scams in my career, but this has to be one of the worst," Chitwood said.
He added, “This is our scumbag of the week. I mean, you can’t get much lower than this.”
Become a Front Page Detective
Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.