Woman Convicted In Cancer Treatment Scheme Gets Probation, Ordered To Pay Restitution

<p>An Oklahoma woman convicted in a cancer treatment scheme will not serve prison time for defrauding cancer patients of more than a million dollars and giving them false hope that she'd cured them.&nbsp;</p>

Wednesday, October 19th 2016, 2:17 pm

By: News On 6


An Oklahoma woman convicted in a cancer treatment scheme will not serve prison time for defrauding cancer patients of more than a million dollars and giving them false hope that she'd cured them.

Federal court documents show Antonella Carpenter was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay more than $166,000 dollars in restitution.

The U.S. Attorney said it's reprehensible that Antonella Carpenter used people's fears of having cancer to line her own pockets. 

They said she promised her treatment of lasers, saline and food coloring killed 100 percent of the tumors. 

But, in case after case, those tumors grew. Many patients died.

"The result is when the patient leaves, the tumor is dead, just like that, dead. Sometimes, they can't believe it," Carpenter said. 

Carpenter claimed her treatment was FDA approved. It was not. She called herself a doctor, but, had no medical degree or license to practice in Oklahoma.

Cyndi Babecka came from out of state for treatment and was told she was cured, but she died from breast cancer.

The U.S. Attorney said Carpenter blasted her patients if they mentioned going to traditional doctors.

News On 6 Crime Reporter Lori Fullbright confronted Carpenter over the phone in 2011 after she lost a lawsuit.

"Are you still treating patients?"

Carpenter: "Look."

Lori: "Are you still treating patients? You are not licensed to practice medicine in Oklahoma."

Carpenter: "It has nothing to do with practicing medicine, that's another thing."

Lori: "So you're treating cancer but you're not practicing medicine?"

Carpenter: "I do not practice medicine."

The FDA raided her Broken Arrow clinic. She was charged with fraud and a jury found her guilty of 29 counts  in February.

Federal prosecutors told the judge the vile facts of this case cry out for prison time. They asked for nine to 11 years.

But, the judge chose probation.

Prosecutors said Carpenter's treatment worked alright - it worked for her. 

They said she took their money. She lived her life. But, her lies left patients in terrible pain and ultimately without a cure.

The U.S. District Judge also ordered that more than $1.1 million of Carpenter's money be seized because of her wire fraud scheme.

A jury convicted Carpenter in February of 29 counts of various types of fraud.

2/10/2016 Related Story: Tulsa Woman Who Claimed To Cure Cancer Guilty On 29 Counts

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