A 23-year-old beauty queen has been arrested and dethroned after investigators discovered that she lied about suffering from cancer to swindle thousands of dollars from sympathizers through fundraisers.

Brandy Lee Weaver-Gates, winner of the 2015 Miss Pennsylvania, was arrested on Tuesday for fraudulently raising money through fundraisers for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

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Authorities say Weaver-Gates began telling people she suffered from the disease after winning the offshoot beauty pageant. Although she was never diagnosed with leukemia, she shaved her head several times to convince people that she was a cancer patient.

Weaver-Gates was persistent on her two-year scheme. She was even able to trick her community and family members into believing she suffered from cancer. She regularly convinced her sister to drive her to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for treatments. However, while her sister waited in the lobby for about eight hours, she would go upstairs and wander in the building.

Last year, a family friend shaved his hair in solidarity with Weaver-Gates and two other cancer patients.

Weaver-Gates received tens of thousands of dollars for treatment from multiple fundraising campaigns on her behalf. Last April, she received $14,000 from a single fundraiser.

However, suspicions started to swirl about her condition when she was asked by a fundraising platform to name any of her doctors and she was unable to. Someone reportedly sent an anonymous letter to the police urging an investigation into her claims.

According to state police, a short investigation into the claims discovered that Weaver-Gates was lying. Her name wasn't listed in any of the medical facilities she claimed to have received treatments from.

Weaver-Gates, a Penn State student from Bellefonte, was arrested and charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Authorities have asked those who donated money to Weaver-Gates to come forward.

The pageant directors Butler's Beauties released a statement expressing shock at Weaver-Gates arrest. They insist that they were also deceived and have dethroned Weaver-Gates and she no longer represents the pageant.

"We at Butler's Beauties are saddened to hear of news of Miss Brandy Weaver-Gates. We were also led to believe that she was dealing with this horrible disease and stood by her as she struggled being a beauty queen and a cancer patient," the statement said.

"Effectively immediately, Ms. Weaver-Gates is no longer a representative of Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International organization and will be required to return her crown and sash upon her release from being detained."

Weaver-Gates is currently being held at the Center County Correctional Facility. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 19th.

TagsPennsylvania Beauty Queen Faking Cancer, 2015 Miss Pennsylvania Fake Cancer, Brandy Lee Weaver-Gates