On November 2, 2016, Sherri Papini was reported missing. Her disappearance ignited a three week search across California and several nearby states. She was found that same year, Thanksgiving Day, with bindings and various injuries. Papini told authorities that two Hispanic women had abducted her at gunpoint. But it has been revealed that this story and the kidnapping as a whole, was a hoax.

Papini was arrested Thursday under the charges lying to federal agents about being kidnapped and defrauding the state’s victim compensation board of $30,000. The true story, according to authorities, is that Papini was staying her ex boyfriend almost 600 miles away in Southern California and dealt the injuries she harbored to herself to verify her claim.

U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert has said, “Ultimately the investigation has revealed that there was no kidnapping and that time and resources that could have been used to investigate actual crime, protect the community, and provide resources to victims were wasted.”

A court date has not been set nor does Papini have a lawyer yet due to her recent arrest. She could face up to 20 years in prison with her charges.