A Philadelphia woman who told police that two black men kidnapped her — and was later found to have lied — was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Bonnie Sweeten, 40, who made headlines two years ago after triggering a massive search when she called police and said that black men had kidnapped her and her 9-year-old daughter, will have to pay $1 million in restitution.
"Sweeten stole funds from family members, from the law office where she had been employed and from the law firm's clients," the prosecutor's office said after the ruling came down.
"You've done great wrong, and you have to pay the price," said U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr., calling her a "master con woman."
While this woman should be ashamed at herself, we are highly disappointed in the federal government and law enforcement for not doing their due diligence in this case. Once the authorities heard "white mother and daughter" and "two black men," they immediately feared the worst. It turns out the woman was just at Disney World.
In the end, we hope this woman had a great time at Disney World, because her next stop is nothing like it at all. And we also hope her 9-year-old daughter turns out OK, since she will now have to live through her formative years without her mother.
Read more at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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