Woman faces charges in claiming she had AIDS

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- A woman who took to the lecture circuit with her account of being raped and infected with AIDS as a child was charged with defrauding the state of $66,000 by falsely claiming to have the disease.
Cassey Weierbach, 27, was arraigned Friday on charges of theft by deception, forgery, tampering with records and making false statements.
She has told her seemingly tragic story over the years to churches, youth groups and medical conferences, and has been covered by various media, including The Morning Call of Allentown. But in June, The Morning Call published a story casting doubt on her claims.
Arrest records state that Weierbach used fabricated laboratory records to indicate she had AIDS so she could receive benefits through the Northampton County Assistance Office in 2003.
She also provided false information in 2004 and 2005 to at least three area doctors, one of whom became suspicious after Weierbach refused AIDS medications, according to an affidavit.
In August 2005, Weierbach admitted herself to Sacred Heart Hospital, where an examination showed she did not suffer from AIDS; however, she presented herself as having AIDS to Sacred Heart Primary Care in March 2006, the affidavit says.
Her travels as an AIDS activist included a tour with the San Francisco nonprofit group Hope's Voice, which coordinates HIV-AIDS educational campaigns.
Weierbach's time with the group was cut short when its executive director, Todd Murray, grew suspicious because Weierbach did not show symptoms.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.