Overview
- Maribeth Ellen Jones surrendered to police earlier this month and faces a second‑degree grand theft charge for taking between $20,000 and $100,000; she is being held at the Collier County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on August 31.
- Investigators say Jones told residents between 2022 and 2024 that she had cancer, used physical signals such as cutting her hair to make the story believable, and received cash, checks, and GoFundMe donations linked to her bank account.
- The Collier County Sheriff’s Office says the scheme defrauded 238 local residents of more than $40,000 and that donated money was used to pay the suspect’s personal debts rather than medical care.
- GoFundMe removed the fundraisers, banned the account and said it refunded more than $41,000 to donors under its Giving Guarantee, which offers full reimbursement when a campaign is found to be misused.
- Sheriff Kevin Rambosk warned that the case harms community trust in local fundraisers and urged donors to verify organizers, check for transparent updates, and look for confirming comments from family or friends before giving.