Mom guilty of gambling with cancer benefit funds for ill son

[Zephie]

The mother of a cancer-stricken young man had her own idea of how to spend $15,000 in benefit money raised to help him fight his illness: she gambled it away.

Sherry R. Holcomb, 46, of Cortland, pleaded guilty Wednesday in State Supreme Court to a felony count of scheme to defraud.

She opened a bank account and deposited the money raised at a benefit, and even funds sent with get-well cards, for Ryan O'Donnell, her 21-year-old son. Then she used ATM cards to withdraw the money to finance her gambling at casinos across the Northeast, prosecutors said.

<snip>

"I'm not sure how much of Ryan's money I've gambled away, but it is virtually all gone," she said in her confession.

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article557165.ece

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Ryan is dying of Leukemia. Sherry Holcomb is allowed to remain his primary caregiver.

[demwing]

1. I can't recommend this, sorry

it's just crushingly painful, and too close to home

[Mimosa]

2. IF USA had single payer as in Canada and UK this couldn't have happened. n/t

[Redford]

3. Gambling addiction is a disease

It is just as bad as drug addiction in my opinion. I know too many families destroyed by it....

[Raschel]

4. I'm feeling pretty crappy from chemo today, but I think I could still kick her ass.

[roguevalley]

6. bless you, Raschel on your chemo trip. I wish you well, honey

[Raschel]

7. Thank you!

:hug:

[frylock]

5. just a tragic story all the way around

[Initech]

8. There are no words to describe how sad and fucked up this is.