Woman Faked Suicide To Avoid Prison Sentence, Sacramento Prosecutors Say
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) -- Prosecutors say a Sacramento County woman feigned suicide to avoid a prison sentence.
The Sacramento Bee reports that documents say the woman was previously sentenced to 20 months in prison for mortgage fraud and was supposed to begin her sentence in February 2014, but ran away and left a note that made it look like she had killed herself.
41-year-old Maria Santa was arrested Aug. 26 in Sacramento. Authorities say she was a passenger in a vehicle that her husband was driving.
A U.S. attorney's office news release says the woman was arraigned in federal court Tuesday and is charged with failing to surrender to serve a sentence and obstructing justice.
Her 43-year-old husband, Virgil Santa was charged with harboring a fugitive.
If convicted, Maria and Virgil Santa face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
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