Cancer Lie Nets Auburn Woman $400K+

AUBURN, WA – Julie Ann Dahlquist, 51, of Auburn, Washington, is facing serious federal charges after being indicted for a brazen wire fraud scheme that bilked an elderly resident out of more than $400,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced her arrest this afternoon, detailing a calculated deception built on a fabricated cancer diagnosis.

Between May 2009 and September 2012, Dahlquist allegedly preyed on the good nature of an Auburn senior, convincing them to provide financial support under the false pretense of needing funds for cancer treatment. According to the indictment, Dahlquist had no cancer diagnosis. The victim, genuinely concerned for Dahlquist’s well-being, willingly wrote check after check, believing they were contributing to life-saving medical care. These weren’t small donations; the victim wrote checks for as much as $9,000 approximately three times a month, totaling a staggering $400,000 across 190 checks.

But the lies didn’t stop at the initial fraud. The indictment reveals Dahlquist wasn’t simply living large on stolen funds. She’s also been charged with Social Security fraud, accused of concealing the $400,000 she received from the wire fraud scheme to illegally collect $8,000 in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Further compounding the charges, Dahlquist allegedly failed to disclose an additional $100,000 in gambling proceeds, knowing that these unreported earnings would disqualify her from receiving SSI.

The scheme, if proven, represents a callous betrayal of trust and a blatant disregard for the vulnerability of the elderly. Federal prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence if Dahlquist is convicted. Wire fraud carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, while Social Security fraud could add another five years to her sentence, totaling a potential 25 years behind bars.

Dahlquist is scheduled to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at 1:30 PM. It’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations at this stage, and Dahlquist is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with prosecution handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson, as part of a partnership between the Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments.