06/16/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Tara Monks // Tara Monks
Dundalk, MD – A woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from friends by pretending to suffer from terminal cancer pleaded guilty to a single count of felony theft on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. Dina Perouty-Leona told people in her life she needed help funding treatment for her cancer, and received approximately $24,000 from sympathizers, as reported by The Baltimore Sun.
Perouty-Leone, 37, of Dundalk, faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the charge. The mother of two was described by former high school classmates and friends as “very kind, sweet and pleasant.”
Baltimore County prosecutors charged Perouty-Leone with four theft counts, describing her actions as an “elaborate scheme to obtain money from her friends to fund her lifestyle and not because of illness.” Upon pleading guilty, she was ordered to remain jailed until her sentencing, which is scheduled for August 31.
The tearful defendant told the courtroom she was sorry, and asked her sister to take care of her children. Two women in particular, each of whom estimate to have given the con-woman $12,000 a piece, were unimpressed with the apology. One of the victims of the scam explained her sentiments as, “It was never about the money. I just wanted her to stop hurting others.”
In January, Perouty-Leone defended herself by telling reporters that her husband made her go through with the scam. She filed a domestic-abuse case against him at the beginning of the year, but did not show up for the hearing.
Perouty-Leone lost her real estate license in 2007, after she was found guilty in four fraud cases. She defrauded one homeowner by pretending to be an attorney and convincing people to pay her their monthly mortgage payments. She told the homeowners she could help them avoid foreclosure. One Skyesville woman paid her approximately $11,500 over the duration of the scam.
For that case, Perouty-Leone was sentenced to 10 years in prison. All but 49 days of the sentence were suspended and she was placed on probation. Her guilty plea constitutes a parole violation though, and may result more jail time.
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