The 49-year-old man who faked having Lou Gehrig’s disease to scam donors into giving him free truck repairs, cash donations and a free motorized wheelchair has been arrested.
Christopher Wade Nelson has been arrested and charged with aggravated identify theft, forgery, witness tampering, and fraud.
At the time of the arrest, Nelson was out on pre-trial release for pending charges after he faked having pancreatic cancer to receive donations from his high school friends.
In that 2016 scam, he obtained $30,000 over a period of five years and sent messages to donors saying he died by suicide, ABC15 reported.
As soon as he was released, Nelson faked having Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS to scam people into giving him money, gifts, and free truck repairs, and also to avoid court.
Lou Gehrig’s Disease is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, resulting in loss of muscle control.
Authorities said the 49-year-old engaged in the scams from May 2018 to May 2020 to delay his trial.
Officers also said Nelson used Instagram to ask the auto shop’s owner to repair his truck for free so he could take ‘one last ride.’
He also “fabricated, forged and with intent to defraud, documents allegedly from Mayo Clinic Physicians, submitted through his legal counsel…faking a terminal illness to avoid court appearances.”
The Mayo Clinic said it didn’t sign any documents related to Nelson’s disease.
In addition, Nelson used social media to get real ALS patients and physical therapist to conduct a fundraiser for his speech device.
Earlier this year, he appeared in court in a motorized wheelchair. His lawyer claimed that he could not speak.
However, police surveillance video from July shows Nelson walking, washing and driving his car, dancing, heavy lifting, and doing yard work.
Police determined that Nelson is ‘healthy, mobile and utilizes verbal communication skills clearly and easily.’
Nelson’s wife was also arrested but has been released.
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Replaced!