A Texas woman who gained widespread attention for claiming she was attacked with a brick has now been convicted of theft.
In 2023, Roda Osman went viral after saying a man struck her in the head with a brick because she wouldn’t give him her phone number. The story drew national sympathy, and a GoFundMe campaign she created quickly raised more than $42,000.
On Wednesday, a Harris County jury found Osman guilty of theft. She was sentenced to 10 years of probation.
Osman first posted a video in September 2023 describing what she said was a random act of violence. The clip showed her visibly hurt and upset, claiming a stranger had hit her after turning down his advances. Many online rallied behind her, calling for justice and donating to her fundraiser.
According to court records, police later reviewed nearby surveillance footage and found that events didn’t happen as Osman described. The video reportedly showed Osman arguing with a man and hitting him with an unidentified object before he struck her back with what looked like a water bottle.
Authorities said Osman’s GoFundMe campaign was based on a false claim and that she kept the money raised from it.
Prosecutors argued that Osman’s viral story deceived thousands of people who believed they were helping a victim of assault. The jury agreed, finding her guilty of theft.