Posted on 06/03/2005 6:06:28 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Ellen Day appeared at death’s door during a debilitating battle with liver, breast and colon cancer.
Or so DuPage County prosecutors thought.
The 50-year-old Bloomingdale woman was sentenced to two years in prison Thursday for obstructing justice when she gave police false documents to clear her name in a theft investigation.
She might have been a good candidate for probation, but a judge meted out the near-maximum prison term after prosecutors accused Day of lying about her terminal illness in an elaborate scam to glean their sympathy.
“I almost don’t know where to begin,” DuPage Circuit Judge Michael Burke said in detailing how the defendant spun a web of deceit. “Every time she opens her mouth, it’s either someone else’s fault or there’s a conspiracy theory. This defendant is a scam artist.”
Police arrested Day a few years ago on theft, forgery and the obstruction charges on suspicion she stole $25,000 while working as a consultant for an Oak Brook firm.
Authorities dropped the theft charges because the company president did not want to pursue the prosecution. She did, though, plead guilty to obstructing justice for tendering false credit documents to Oak Brook police. She faced up to three years in prison.
Her former attorney, Thomas Sullivan Jr., so worried about Day’s failing health that he persuaded judges for years to waive his client’s court appearances and was near working out a plea deal for probation when he and prosecutors became suspicious she was lying.
“I traipsed to court over and over to tell the judge she was at death’s door and there she sits today perfectly healthy,” said Sullivan, clearly irritated.
Prosecutors Ken Tatarelis and Mary Cronin said the fake medical records are the latest example in a long history of Day’s deceit that included using multiple addresses and Social Security numbers to get a mortgage, car, and credit cards.
Day did provide other medical documents of her ongoing liver and abdominal problems. The defendant said she’s planned her own funeral twice.
“Just kill me and get it over with,” she sobbed during a rambling 30-minute oratory. “People have no idea the pain and suffering and mental anguish I went through in my life. To have this thrown in my face so maliciously, is just too much.”
Her new attorney sought probation citing Day’s relatively clean criminal history, which included only a 30-year-old felony drug conviction. Day denied providing the false records, which Burke said was “preposterous.”
“Who sent them?” he asked sarcastically. “Is there a magical medical fairy out there?”
Remind you of anybody, DU-wise...? :)
This does have a familiar ring to it, I must say.
Is that Scamdy's sister?
Why yes it does. Can't seem to place the familiarity but is does give me a feeling of deja vu.
"Sister"? What do you think that surgery at Johns Hopkins was for?
It may not be true, but it could be true! Too bad she's the wrong color to use that one!
Was it an April 27 FAX posted on the web by William Rivers Pitt?
Oh yeah :)
Sounds like a DUmmie talking about any of the last three elections.
See, Undie? You CAN get in trouble for this!
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