A New York woman, Nouel Alba was arrested by the FBI for a Newtown donation scam and for lying during the interrogation. Alba was detained for collecting donations on the pretext of raising a "funeral fund" for a child killed during the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, according to USA Today. Nouel Alba claimed to be the aunt of Noah Pozner, one of the victims.

Alba raised money through her Facebook account and text messages. The messages asked the donors to send in the money to a PayPal account in her name.

When the FBI interrogated her about the fund and the PayPal account, the 37-year-old denied that she had posted anything on Facebook or sent any messages asking for donations. She also claimed that someone else must have posted those messages, which she was unaware of.

When the FBI agents asked why her account number, bank routing number, email and PayPal information reflected on the messages, Alba said that it was because she sold things online, reports firstcoastnews.com. She also claimed to have refunded all the donations she received as she did not know why they appeared on her PayPal account.

"It is unconscionable to think that the families of the victims in Newtown and a sympathetic community looking to provide them some sort of financial support and comfort have become the targets of criminals," stated FBI special agent in charge Kimberly K Mertz, on the official FBI site. "Today's arrest is a stern message that the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who perpetrate Internet fundraising scams, especially those scams that exploit the most vulnerable in their time of shared sorrow."

Alba appeared before the U.S. Magistrate in Hartford and has been released after paying up a bond of $50,000 but if convicted she will face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.