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Police: Man Faked Tumor To Get $3,000 From Church, Friends

OIL CITY, Pa. (AP) - Police say a northwestern Pennsylvania man faked having a brain tumor to bilk a church and some friends out of nearly $3,000 in cash and other assistance.

The Oil City Derrick reports Oil City police determined 36-year-old Matthew James Wilson created "an imaginary, fictitious brain tumor."

The Franklin man allegedly used the story to borrow money from an Oil City church, its pastor and others to deal with the tumor and other debts.

Police say one couple at the church lent Wilson $400 then also borrowed their new $450 electric generator only to return it "broken and unusable."

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Police filed charges of theft, receiving stolen property and forgery against Wilson on Monday.

Online court records don't list an attorney for Wilson, who does not have a listed phone number.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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