A woman who solicited money by posing as the aunt of a boy killed in the Newtown Elementary School shooting was sentenced Tuesday to eight months in prison.
Beginning the day after the shootings last December, Nouel Alba, 37, of New York City, claimed to be the aunt of 6-year-old Noah Pozner and used Facebook, emails, texts and phone calls to collect money she said was for Pozner’s funeral fund. According to authorities, Alba collected about $240, which she repaid, but federal prosecutors sought prison time saying Alba’s actions had caused the community great emotional harm.
Alba pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges in June. According to AP, in sentencing Alba, U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Shea said, “The attempt to profit from a national tragedy was outrageous.”
[AP]