A 69-year-old Deltona man accused of posing as a cancer patient to defraud nonprofit organizations in several states, including Florida, was arrested last week in Volusia County.
On Wednesday, May 29, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Timothy Ray Bartlett for grand theft (over $5,000 but less than $10,000) and organized scheme to defraud.
Several months ago, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood received an email from a Tampa-area nonprofit organization that pays living expenses for cancer patients who are are undergoing treatment or are in recovery.
According to Sheriff Chitwood, the owner of the Tampa nonprofit alleged that her organization had been defrauded by a man in Deltona who posed as a cancer patient and received $5,000 in assistance. The man was later identified as Bartlett.
VCSO detectives launched an investigation into Bartlett, which revealed that he had allegedly posed as a woman named “Sally Holmes” who was out of work and undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Sheriff Chitwood stated on social media that detectives gathered evidence that Bartlett “ran the same scam” in an alleged attempt to defraud four other nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
The above nonprofit organizations all help pay the living expenses for patients who are battling breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pediatric cancer.
“I have seen a lot of morally reprehensible scams in my career, but this has to be one of the worst,” stated Sheriff Chitwood.
After being placed under arrest, Bartlett was transported to Volusia County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $20,500 bond.