Fake 'cancer bride' ordered to pay back donations

• Tweet

NEW YORK, May 24 (UPI) -- A New York woman who lied about having terminal cancer to raise cash for her wedding and honeymoon was ordered to reimburse her donors.

Jessica Vega, 25, pleaded guilty last month to first-degree scheming to defraud and criminal possession of a forged instrument for collecting $13,368.48 in gifts and monetary donations while posing as terminally ill, CNN reported Thursday.

Orange County Judge Robert Freehill ordered Vega to pay back the money she received, and sentenced her to 300 hours of community service and five years of probation.

"I am pleased that the community members, who felt so compelled to generously help a neighbor in need, will be given back their hard earned money," Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement.

Officials said Vega's scam played out from January 2010 to June 2010. Vega was married in May 2010 and allegedly "went to Aruba for her honeymoon with expenses paid for by people touched by her story," her indictment said.

The man Vega married is not facing charges, attorney general spokeswoman Jennifer Givner said, adding the man said he was not involved in the scheme.

Victims of Vega's scheme are expected to receive compensation in coming weeks.