According to the Lancaster County district attorney, a woman from New Jersey stole $560,000 in hospital treatments by pretending to have sickle cell anemia.
Taleah McKnight, 30, has been charged with theft of service and deception.
McKnight is accused of checking into Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center in East Hempfield Township in February 2024 using a false name to receive treatment for her illness.
A security manager told police she supplied doctor-signed documents indicating she had sickle cell anemia and agreed to self-pay for any treatment.
After roughly a month, hospital workers became suspicious of the diagnosis and ordered a test to confirm she did not have sickle cell anemia.
When challenged, McKnight allegedly signed herself out of the hospital and departed.
According to hospital security, McKnight had previously been a patient at two other medical facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey under a different name.
Investigators discovered that she had profiles on fundraising websites asking for money for hospital expenses.
According to the district attorney’s office, McKnight is currently free on $150,000 unsecured bail.