Bronx woman posed as aunt of US school massacre victim
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NEW YORK (AFP) - United States (US) authorities on Thursday arrested a woman accused of trying to profit from the massive public outpouring over the Newtown school massacre by posing as an aunt of one of the victims.
Nouel Alba, a 37-year-old from the Bronx, faces a five-year prison sentence and a fine of up to US$250,000 (S$306,000) if found guilty of an alleged scheme to hoodwink donors after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Following her arrest, Alba appeared before a court in Connecticut's state capital Hartford and was released on a US$50,000 bond, according to a statement from the US attorney's office.
"It is unconscionable to think that the families of the victims in Newtown, and a sympathetic community looking to provide them some sort of financial support and comfort, have become the targets of criminals," said FBI Special Agent Kimberly Mertz.
