BREAKING NEWS – Bellefonte, Pennsylvania – A Pennsylvania beauty queen is facing felony charges for allegedly raising thousands of dollars from donors whom she tricked into believing she was battling cancer, police say. Brandi Lee Weaver-Gates, a 23-year-old reigning Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International, was arrested Tuesday and charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Weaver-Gates allegedly carried out her “elaborate scheme” over the course of two years — going as far as shaving her head and having family members drive her to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to get treatment. She also held fundraisers in attempt to swindle money, police said. Police said one event in April — called “Bingo for Brandi” — apparently raised $14,000. She is currently at Centre County Correctional Facility, and said in an interviewed that she is humbled and has learned her lesson. “To prove that I am genuine”, Weaver-Gates explained “as soon as I am released, I plan to start a charity that can raise money for former beauty queens that are felons with major mental health issues.”
