A woman who has been taken into custody by Columbia County authorities is facing extradition to Arizona; she has been charged with faking a cancer diagnosis in an attempt to obtain a state-funded abortion.

On Friday, Chalice Renee Zeitner was arrested at a residence on Johns Road in Appling by sheriff’s officers. According to authorities, the officers have been working with Federal Bureau of Investigation agents to serve an Arizona warrant for fraud, theft, identity theft and forgery.

On Tuesday, Brnovich’s office issued a statement in which it said that in March 2010, Zeitner went to her obstetrician and said that she was suffering from a stage IV sarcoma and also said that she was had to go for urgent treatment in Boston, Mass. for removal of tumors in her abdomen and lower spinal area.

According to Attorney general spokeswoman Kristen Keogh, it was Zeitner’s 22nd week of pregnancy when she had an abortion on April 8, 2010 in Phoenix, Ariz. According to Brnovich, Zeitner was registered in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System at that time; it just covers abortions under limited circumstance and when the life of the mother is in danger.

Brnovich said in the statement, “The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is rooting out fraud. We will investigate corruption wherever it exists. We appreciate the work of our joint state and federal agencies on this case”.

According to officials, Zeitner is being detained at the Columbia County Detention Center. Zeitner was living under alias as Al Serkez at the time she was taken into custody. As per a sheriff’s report, her 10-year-old daughter was placed in the care of her mother, Melody Zeitner, when Zeitner was arrested.