Woman convicted in 2003 leukemia scam pleads guilty to drug charge

SPRINGFIELD — A Champaign County woman convicted in 2003 of bilking the community out of thousands of dollars by claiming her then 7-year-old daughter had leukemia pleaded guilty to drug charges Wednesday.

Teresa L. Milbrandt, 43, of St. Paris, pleaded guilty to deception to obtain a dangerous drug and her daughter, Katie Harding, 27, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug.

Harding is not the child who was involved with the 2003 case.

Both women had been accused of trying to obtain Vicodin with false prescriptions last year using Harding’s former employment at a doctor’s office for access to the medication.

Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Dan Driscoll said he was satisfied with the plea.

“We were able to get pleas to the offenses that these individuals committed and we were able to do that in a very efficient manner,” said Driscoll.

Defense attorney Kevin Talebi, who represents both women, could not be reached for comment.

Milbrandt faces up to one year in prison. Harding faces a maximum of two years in prison, but Driscoll said the state is recommending probation or community control based on Harding’s lack of a criminal record.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 2.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.

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