Town Of Montgomery Bride Faked Terminal Illness To Scam Mid-Hudson Community Members Out Of Thousands Of Dollars

ORANGE COUNTY - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest and indictment against Jessica Vega, 25, formerly of Montgomery, NY, on multiple charges of fraud and grand larceny for posing as a terminally ill bride to receive thousands of dollars from citizens and others from the Mid-Hudson region. Vega is charged with six felonies and one misdemeanor: one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, five counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree. The maximum sentence for any of the felony charges in the indictment is 1⅓- 4 years in prison. “By pretending to have a terminal illness, Vega inexcusably took advantage of the community's hearts and minds, and profited off of their generosity,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Our office will hold this individual accountable for fleecing the public through lies and deception.” In the spring of 2010, Vega claimed that she was stricken with terminal cancer and had only a few months to live. She asked for a dream wedding and received her wishes from citizens and others in the Mid-Hudson region. She was married in May 2010 and went to Aruba for her honeymoon with expenses paid for by members of the Mid-Hudson community touched by her story. It was subsequently discovered that Jessica Vega was neither stricken with terminal cancer nor dying, as she had led everyone to believe. The Attorney General also thanked the New York State Police for their assistance with this case. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Emmanuel Nneji under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Stephen Maher, Bureau Chief Gail Heatherly and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Nancy Hoppock.