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West Virginia Woman Who Tried To Fake Her Own Death Pleads Guilty To Federal Charge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia woman who conspired to fake her death at the New River Gorge has pleaded guilty to a federal charge, authorities said.

Julie M. Wheeler, 44, of Beaver faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced in January for conspiring to obstruct justice, news outlets reported, citing a statement Wednesday from the U.S. attorney's office.

Prosecutors said Wheeler admitted to conspiring with her husband, Rodney Wheeler, to fake her death at the New River Gorge by pretending she plummeted from an overlook as part of a scheme to keep her out of having to go to prison in a health care fraud case. Wheeler's husband told authorities on May 31 that she had fallen from the main overlook at New River Gorge National River, prompting a massive search and rescue operation.

RELATED STORY: Police: West Virginia Man Faked Wife's Disappearance So She Would Avoid Prison

Two days later, West Virginia State Police found Wheeler hiding in a closet of her home.

Wheeler was sentenced in June to 42 months in prison for health care fraud-related to overbilling and ordered to pay more than $289,000 in restitution, authorities said.

Wheeler's husband is expected to go on trial in the case next month.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)

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