Teen accused of faking cancer to get money wants trial moved

EL PASO - The Horizon City teenager who received thousands of dollars while claiming to be dying of cancer has filed a motion to move her trial to another city.

Ruth "Angie" Gomez, 19, was indicted in April by a grand jury on a theft by deception charge.

Gomez is scheduled for a jury trial in the 120th District Court on Aug. 17.

According to the change of venue request, Gomez's lawyer, Sheldon Myers, claims that the extensive media coverage she has received prohibits her from having a fair trial in El Paso.

"These news stories portrayed Defendant as a con artist, thief, and fraud who engaged in alleged activities to obtain funds contributed to a non-existent charity," the motion reads.

"Given the extent of the media coverage on this case, Defendant can not receive a fair trial in El Paso, Texas."

The motion was filed on June 22. No decision has been made.

Local media first began reporting on the teenager in 2011.

Gomez, a former Horizon High School student, told residents, teachers and classmates that she only had six months to live after being diagnosed with cancer.

The community rallied around Gomez and helped her create the Achieve The Dream Foundation, which raised $17,000.

A special prom was also arranged for her after she told classmates she couldn't make it to her own because she was undergoing treatments.

In June 2011, Horizon City Police received a complaint alleging that Gomez wasn't sick. Detectives than began looking into the foundation's bank records.