A Henderson woman who pleaded guilty earlier this year to taking money from personal acquaintances for vacations that never happened under the guise of a social media influencing scheme reported to jail on Wednesday.
Haleigh Morgan Knight, 30, was sentenced to two years of probation with the first 30 days to be served at the jail, according to minutes from a June 24 District Court hearing.
In March, Knight pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge stemming from allegations she defrauded a longtime friend, several members of that friend’s family and others out of more than $20,000.
Knight’s attorney, Ryan Helmick, had filed a motion asking that Knight report to the jail every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in order for to keep her job. But Helmick said in a text on Thursday that he withdrew the motion because he said serving the 30 days consecutively was in Knight’s best interest.
“She has been punished,” Helmick said. “She acknowledged her wrongdoing. The case is closed. Hopefully, she can move on with her life without any harassment.”
Knight ordered to pay restitution
Knight was ordered to pay back more than $19,700 in restitution, which she can pay back in monthly installments of $825 per month, according to the minutes from Knight’s sentencing hearing.
Prosecutors opened the case against Knight in January after a Henderson Police Department report found that from June 2023 to April 2024, she told former high school classmate Cydney Fink and Fink’s relatives she was a content creator and trip advisor for Four Seasons Hotels.
Fink said that she and Knight first met while attending Foothill High School together and believed Knight was a legitimate content creator because of previous posts seeming to promote content and brands.
According to police, Knight would invite Fink and her family to trips abroad and would collect money from them for trip “deposits.” Those trips never panned out, and Knight would tell Fink and her family on multiple occasions that getting their money back wasn’t possible, Fink said previously.
Cumulatively, Fink and her relatives sent Knight digital payments totaling $20,192.16, according to police. Court records show Cydney Fink, sister Corey Fink and their mother, Leann Fink — each of whom police said gave money to Knight — testified at the sentencing.
Knight admitted taking money from the Finks, police said. She also faked a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, according to police, and used the diagnosis to solicit funds through the online fundraising platform GoFundMe.
‘More time is definitely deserved’
Should Knight complete the requirements of her sentence, she can withdraw her plea and instead plead guilty to misdemeanor theft and receive credit for time served, court records show.
Cydney Fink said in a text Thursday that she wished Knight was given a longer sentence.
“I think she deserves more time, but am glad she got something,” Fink said.
Leann Fink echoed a similar sentiment.
“It would have been nice if she (Knight) got more of a punishment,” Leann Fink said Thursday. “More time is definitely deserved.”
Corey Fink was not immediately available to comment.
Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Casey_Harrison1 on X.
