( CNN ) -- A New York woman faces charges for faking cancer to solicit money from unsuspecting donors and a relative . For more than a year , 21-year-old Brittany Ozarowski falsely claimed she had cancer , defrauding donors of thousands of dollars to collect money for her drug habit , the Suffolk County District Attorney 's office said . Ozarowski was arrested April 1 in front of a supermarket while soliciting shoppers for cash , holding a donation jar . She was arraigned in court Thursday on 24 counts of fraud and forgery . She pleaded not guilty . `` This is an emotionally disturbing case , but her crimes were non-violent ones . This should be taken into account when evaluating her case as a whole , '' Ozarowski 's attorney , George H. Duncan , told CNN . According to authorities , Ozarowski falsely claimed that she had bone and brain cancer , stomach cancer , thyroid cancer and ovarian cancer . She claimed her daily medical expenses were $ 33,000 , explaining to prospective donors that radiation treatments cost $ 1,000 per session at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Commack . `` This was a despicable scam , '' Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said . `` There was no cancer , no chemotherapy , no radiation , and no medical bills . There was just heroin . '' Ozarowski convinced many store owners in Nassau and Suffolk counties to allow her to place donor jars in their businesses , Spota said , and even created a PayPal account and a website with the banner , `` Brittany Ozarowski-Help Save My Life . '' `` The truth is , she is a 21-year-old drug addict with four open narcotics cases , and we have strong evidence she forged doctors ' notes to avoid court appearances , '' Spota said . Those cases include charges of possession of heroin and Oxycodone . A spokesperson for the District Attorney 's office also said detectives discovered that Ozarowski 's grandmother , Rosemarie Ozarowski , gave Brittany approximately $ 100,000 after selling her home to move to Florida . Authorities said Brittany Ozarowski defrauded many sympathetic online donors and store owners out of thousands of dollars . One donor told CNN that she grew suspicious of Ozarowski 's claims and contacted authorities . `` I asked her , 'Why did n't you lose your hair ? ' `` Elizabeth Patricola , 52 , owner of Paws N Claws , told CNN on Thursday. `` 'Brittany replied because they give her special vitamins . ' My stomach dropped . I did n't feel right about any of those answers . '' Paws N Claws was one of many businesses on Long Island that helped organize fundraisers for Ozarowski . Last September , the Paws N Claws fundraiser raised $ 3,000 . Patricola donated another $ 1,000 . `` I let my heart rule me . And she was extremely convincing and believable , '' Patricola said . Ozarowski is currently being held in the Suffolk County jail , with her bond set at $ 75,000 cash or $ 150,000 bond .
Brittany Ozarowski falsely claimed to have multiple cancers , authorities say . Score: 7 The 21-year-old is charged on 24 counts of fraud and forgery . She pleaded not guilty Thursday .