Upstate New York Woman Charged with Using Fake Cancer Diagnosis to Obtain Over 8,000 Oxycodone Pills

A woman from Monroe County is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say she falsely claimed having terminal cancer in order to acquire thousands of prescription opioid pills.

According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, 40-year-old Brandi Leigh Bachman is accused of telling providers across Monroe, Carbon, and Lehigh counties that she had malignant melanoma that had spread to her lungs.

In some cases, officials say she submitted forged documents to support her fabricated diagnosis.

Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the charges, stating that Bachman fraudulently obtained 8,298 oxycodone pills from 19 different providers between 2021 and 2024. She now faces 21 felony counts of acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud, along with additional charges for identity theft and criminal use of a communication facility.

“Fraudulently obtaining thousands of opioid prescription pills in this manner is offensive to those living with a legitimate diagnosis. This conduct also endangers our communities by increasing the supply of these drugs available for off-label use,” said Attorney General Sunday. “This criminal scheme allowed the defendant to access opioids for years, deceiving providers who believed they were treating legitimate pain from a terminal illness.”

The Attorney General's Office stated that Bachman allegedly used the identities of three doctors as part of her scheme. During the investigation, multiple medical providers reported that Bachman told them she had terminal cancer but had trouble obtaining her medical records. In several instances, she eventually submitted documentation that the providers later confirmed were forgeries.

When medical professionals recommended further testing or treatment to verify her diagnosis, Bachman would often decline, saying she no longer wished to pursue treatment and only wanted pain management care to ease her remaining time.

Bachman was arrested Wednesday and her bail was set at $25,000.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 14th.

Upstate New York Woman Charged with Using Fake Cancer Diagnosis to Obtain Over 8,000 Oxycodone Pills