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Taleah McKnight, 30, also known as Abygail Brooks, Chemory Brooks, Taleah Brooks, Leah Osei, and Leah Javon has an active arrest warrant for theft by deception and theft of services, East Hempfield Township Police in Lancaster County announced and Daily Voice previously reported.
McKnight has lived at addresses in Roselle Park and Rahway in Union County as well as Carteret, Middlesex County, New Jersey, according to public records.
From 2022 to 2024, McKnight allegedly entered multiple medical facilities across south-central Pennsylvania claiming to suffer from sickle cell anemia, providing a fraudulent document on her phone to support her claims, police said. Medical staff became suspicious and later confirmed she did not have the disease, investigators stated.
McKnight used this scheme to obtain extensive medical treatments at several hospitals, racking up services exceeding $600,000. She provided a fake New Jersey ID but has a valid Texas driver’s license and was transported to and from hospitals in a vehicle with New Jersey registration. McKnight also has a prior criminal record in Oklahoma, according to police.
Before her latest alleged scam, McKnight had already been accused of deceiving celebrities. In 2018, Grammy-winning artist SZA reportedly assisted McKnight—then using the alias "Leah Javon"—by covering her chemotherapy costs, helping her secure a kidney transplant, and treating her to VIP concert experiences, according to entertainment outlet Where Is The Buzz TV. McKnight even thanked SZA publicly on social media for the generous support. SZA also has strong ties to Maplewood, New Jersey, where she grew up and attended Columbia High School, even returning to the school to be inducted into its Hall of Fame.
Since news of McKnight’s fraud allegations surfaced, additional individuals have spoken out, claiming they also fell victim to her deception. A social media account dedicated to exposing McKnight, 'ExposingLeahJavon,' has accused her of orchestrating multiple scams for years, including allegedly falsely accusing former romantic partners of sexual assault to get them discharged from the military. "Leah has falsely accused 4+ women of ass*ulting her after bad breakups! At least 3 of these women were serving in some way. When they tried to speak up about her lies & abuse she would threaten to have them discharged!" one post reads.
The account also alleges that McKnight scammed hair braiders by falsely claiming their work caused hair loss months after services were completed—despite previously attributing her hair loss to chemotherapy. "She would lie & say the braids pulled her hair out then post 'hair loss' photos that she previously claimed were caused from 'CHEMO,'" another post states.
Critics claim McKnight has a pattern of manipulating online communities for financial gain. The account further alleges that she has harassed former friends, exes, and family members, launching targeted campaigns against them online. "Leah has a history of harassing anybody she falls out with... She does everything in her power to start w*tch hunts and bullies them on the internet and beyond!" the account posted.
Despite mounting accusations, McKnight continues to promote her assisted death fundraiser and defends herself against skeptics. She insists that her story is authentic and has doubled down on her efforts to raise the remaining funds for her trip to Switzerland. Online communities have begun piecing together a pattern of alleged scams dating back years, including GoFundMe campaigns for various medical crises that some now believe were fabricated.
Despite SZA’s contributions, McKnight is now accused of fabricating other illnesses which she posts about on her Instagram
She claims to suffer from multiple chronic conditions, including various skin, hormone, and blood conditions, as well as lupus, congestive heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension, and states that she has exhausted all treatment options.
McKnight continued to promote the fundraiser on social media, especially her Instagram accounts @chronically20something and @thedisabledskincarefairy; claiming that her content is being 'shadowbanned' for being too 'polarizing.' She also states that her medical team confirmed her liver is failing, in addition to her heart and lungs. McKnight insists that all proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward travel and lodging for her trip to Switzerland, emphasizing that she has already paid for the assisted death procedure.
In her latest posts about the GoFundMe, McKnight has expressed urgency in reaching her fundraising goal, stating, 'ALMOST TO MY GOAL!!! Please help me reach it.'
The fundraiser, titled “Help Leah Achieve a Peaceful Ending in Switzerland,” raised over $6,800 of its $9,500 goal as of March 18, before being shut down.
In addition to the GoFundMe, she encouraged supporters to donate or buy from her stationary shop, stating that selling out of her merchandise would cover at least the cost of her plane ticket. McKnight also maintains a private Instagram account documenting her journey, where she has implemented strict access rules, rejecting anonymous accounts and requiring followers to send a direct message before being accepted. She claims this measure is to prevent harassment and unwanted attention. Her last social media post as of press time was Feb. 18.
Authorities are urging any agencies investigating McKnight or with information on her whereabouts to contact Detective David Bender of the East Hempfield Township Police Department at (717) 898-3103 ext. 260 or benderd@ehpd.org.
Daily Voice has reached out to Sza's team but has yet to hear back at the time of publishing.
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