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March 30, 2007

Woman in alleged cancer scam indicted

Kim Sloan

Marilyn Young’s emotions are still raw, her wounds still deep, after being allegedly scammed by a Cleveland, Tenn., woman who claimed she had cancer when authorities say she did not.

Young is one of five alleged victims listed in an indictment against Pam Michelle Allen handed down by the Whitfield County grand jury on Thursday. Allen is charged with three counts of felony theft by deception and three counts of misdemeanor theft by deception for allegedly taking money from people after telling them she was dying of cancer.

“It’s the emotional things she put you through that hurts worse than the money,” Young, who lives in Dalton, said Friday.

Young said she believes she is just one of many victims, a claim backed up by Dalton police. After Allen’s arrest in December, police spokesman Chris McDonald said Allen told similar stories of poor health at a church in Chattanooga in 2001.

“Apparently they made her make an apology to the church and no charges were filed,” he said.

McDonald said Allen accepted gifts, groceries, money and repairs to her home.

“I’m just a drop in the bucket,” Young said. “There’s no telling how much money and services that woman has taken over the years.”

Allen, 40, of 715 Red Clay Road, Cleveland, is out of jail on $10,000 bond. If convicted on the felony counts, Allen could be sentenced to from one to 10 years in prison. A cell phone number she had previously used was not working on Friday, but she has said her attorney plans to fight the charges.

Young said watching people help Allen, even though Allen was allegedly faking a disease, had a positive effect on her.

“There sure are a lot of good people in the world,” Young said. “A lot more good than bad.”

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