A North Canton man has pleaded guilty to an online fundraising fraud.

North Canton police say 41 year-old William Treacle told people he was suffering of cancer and other illnesses on the "GoFundMe" site and on social media.

The Stark County Sheriff's Office says it found Treacle forged medical documents to support his story, and says Treacle got over $10,000.

He pleaded guilty to felony theft and forgery charges, and will be sentenced later this month.

(North Canton Police Department, news release) On February 18, 2015, the North Canton Police Department received information that William E. Treacle might be defrauding the public in the form of feigning a medical condition. He was depicting himself suffering from several kinds of illnesses and cancer. He publicly solicited funds from the
public thru GoFundMe and developed a social media site identified as "Help Our Hero William Treacle."

Several victims of his scheme contributed funds in support of treatment for these suspected illnesses.

The investigation led to the inclusion of the Stark County Sheriff's Office because some of the crimes occurred outside of North Canton. After several months of working together, the investigation led to obtaining facts and records of Mr. Treacle's forging documents of confirmation of medical treatment for cancer and securing financial records relating to moneys given by the victims to him in support of his suspected treatment. Reportedly over $10,000 was given to Mr. Treacle.

Today, Mr. William E. Treacle appeared before Judge Farmer of the Stark County Common Pleas Court. He pleaded guilty to the above stated charges of felony theft and forgery through a Bill of Information. He was taken into custody and will be booked into the Stark County Jail where a booking photo will be available. He will be sentenced later in November.