Woman charged in Facebook scam

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FERNDALE, Mich., March 24 (UPI) -- A pregnant Detroit woman who allegedly faked a false baby scam has been ordered to have a psychiatric exam to determine her competence for trial, police say.

Monique Bartlett, 27, set up a fundraiser on Facebook for a non-existent child named "Jude" in 2009, officials allege.

"She had a picture of a baby on fliers saying the baby was born with health problems costing thousands of dollars in outstanding medical bills," Ferndale Police Det. Brendan Moore said.

Police told District Judge Joseph Longo that Bartlett collected several hundred dollars at a fundraiser at AJ's Music Cafe in June 2010, the (Royal Oak, Mich.) Daily Tribune reported. Several of Bartlett's friends became suspicious when they neither saw nor heard of the baby after the fundraiser, the newspaper said.

Moore said Bartlett came to police with a picture of a baby claiming it was hers but refused to produce a birth certificate. Vital Records at Herman Keifer Health Complex in Detroit said there was no certificate because the baby did not exist, Moore said.

Bartlett was ordered by Judge Longo to undergo a psychiatric exam to determine competence to stand trial. Charged with misdemeanor fraud, if convicted Bartlett could face 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.