Husband Of Woman In Cancer Scam Passes Lie Detector Test

DELAWARE, Ohio—Charges were dropped Friday against the husband of a woman who stole thousands of dollars from her family and friends.

Phylip Chen, 38, was accused of working with his wife to convince friends and family he had cancer.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of theft and receiving stolen property. Prosecutors agreed to drop the charges if Phylip were to pass a lie detector test.

The Delaware County Proseuctor’s office announced Friday that Phylip’s lie detector test showed no indication of deception and thus, charges were dropped.

His wife, Melanie, 30, convinced about a dozen family members and friends that she needed thousands of dollars to pay for her husband’s medical expenses.

Relatives contacted authorities after they grew suspicious and the couple was unable to produce documentation of Phylip Chen’s medical treatment.

She was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $792,191 in restitution and court costs.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Melanie in Utah Wednesday, April 29. She was taken into custody at a Salt Lake City hotel and after being on the run for seven weeks.

Melanie pleaded guilty to one count of theft, a first-degree felony, Monday Aug. 10.

If Phylip had flunked the polygraph, prosecutors in Delaware County expected him to plead guilty to one count of receiving stolen property and one count of filing fraudulent tax returns.

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