Five biggest fakers in recent Colorado history

By Kelsey Whipple Fri., Aug. 3 2012 at 1:07 PM

1. Tausha Marsh
A few years ago, this plea for support caught several eyes online -- to the tune of $30,000 in donations:

Tausha Marsh, 28, has been fighting bone cancer for four years and has been recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. Doctors in the U.S. have not given her a positive outlook, however she has been accepted as a patient by a cancer specialist in Amsterdam. This doctor specializes in alternative cancer treatments. She will be moving to the clinic early July 2008 and anticipates staying for 1 year for treatments.

Cancer treatments are very expensive, and her doctor here in the U.S. estimates she will need $300,000 to cover treatments in Europe and to pay off her past medical bills. She needs all the support that she can get: thoughts, prayers and monetary donations are greatly appreciated.

But Marsh's story didn't check out: In 2009, the then-thirty year old pled guilty to faking cancer and profiting from the lie. A judge in La Plata County District Court sentenced the athlete and model to 36 days in jail with four years of probation, and she was ordered to attend weekly counseling sessions. More importantly, however, the terms included 3,000 hours of community service, letters of apology to each person she duped and a $9,000 donation to the American Cancer Society.

Also Read:
• "If Tausha Marsh did fake cancer, here's hoping she invested her profits with the Mormon Madoff"
• "Tausha Marsh pleads guilty to faking cancer -- but web pages asking for donations are still online"
• "Tausha Marsh, cancer faker: MySpace donation page still online even as she heads to jail"

Tags:

fakers, Kevin Grimsinger, Michael Maher, Rick Strandlof, stolen valor, Tausha Marsh, Timothy Oliver

We Recommend

Juan_Leg topcommenter

You forgot the "Baloonboy" !

Patrick Sullivan !

Josh McDaniels !

The # 1 has to be Tebow at QB !!!

Kris Custer

It is even sadder that one of your staff agrees with me

jasond.8westword

I was conned out of $1500 by a guy named William Smith Jr. this past March 2012. I was in a hurry to move but was excited I found a reasonably priced loft to rent at 31st and Blake St. in Denver. William posed as the owner of the loft, took a $500 deposit from me and $1000 for first months rent, gave me the keys and everything was looking great. The day I moved in, the place was a complete mess so I ended up spending the day talking with neighbors and investigating who the real owners were. I contacted them and it turns out William Smith Jr. was their tenant and had not paid rent in over 3 months. He was stupid enough to leave behind all types of receipts, mail and documents. He has an Aurora company registered in his name- DMC Plus 1 LLC dba 70/70 Cigars.

I called the police, picked his face out of a lineup and Detective Todd Ondrak helped get a warrant out for William Smith Jr's arrest. Unfortunately I have not heard anything from the DPD regarding the case though I hope they find the scumbag. I'm now paranoid about any big purchases and working on building up my savings again. To anyone that knows him- holler at me!