A St. Joseph woman convicted of defrauding charities in a 9/11 scam will remain in prison.

Cassaundrea Montgomery, who has paid back less than $500 of the almost $64,000 she received after claiming a fictitious brother was killed in the World Trade Center attack, appealed a recent prison sentence imposed after probation violations. The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s decision to revoke her probation.

Ms. Montgomery, according to the report from the appeals court, sent a series of false documents to charities claiming she was dependent on a “non-existent brother” who was killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, while applying for a job. She received $63,817 from four charities before being found out.

She subsequently served a 21-month prison sentence and began a three-year supervised release in April 2005. Ms. Montgomery was ordered to work regularly and pay at least $300 a month in restitution to the defrauded charities, which she did not do.

The Western District Court held a hearing and revoked her release and sentenced her to 11 more months of imprisonment.

Ms. Montgomery contended in her appeal that the district court didn’t take into account her repeated attempts to find employment or give credence to the impact of her “mental illness and physical problems” in finding or holding down a job. She also contended that the district court imposed a prison sentence without considering other options.

The appeals court found no abuse of discretion on the part of the district court.

Jimmy Myers can be reached

at jimmym@npgco.com