A New Jersey woman’s story of being cut up, tied up and having “FUCK TRUMP” written on her body fell apart, officials said Wednesday, leading to charges that she faked the incident.

Natalie Greene, 26, of Ocean City, New Jersey, was charged with conspiracy to transmit false statements and deception and making false statements to federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey announced.

Greene was working for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R.N.J.) at the time, media outlets determined. An anonymous accomplice had claimed that it was Greene’s association with the Republican lawmaker that the attackers mentioned during their alleged assault on July 23, according to the report.

Officers arrived to find a crying Greene tied up with numerous cuts and “TRUMP WHORE” written on her stomach and Van Drew (called Federal Official 1 in the news release) “IS RACIST” on her back, the summary states. She said she had been threatened at gunpoint, held down and cut numerous times, deputies said.

The suspect said the attackers doodled
The suspect said the attackers scrawled “TRUMP WHORE” on her stomach in an incident that officials now consider a hoax.

United States Attorney’s Office

But investigators say they discovered that she had paid a body “scarification” artist to deliberately cut her face and body in a pattern she had arranged. They said they also found zip ties in Greene’s car that were similar to those used in the alleged attack and that his accomplice had searched for “zips near me” on a cell phone.

A conviction would include a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Greene is free on bond, according to the announcement.

“At the age of 26, my client served his community by working full-time to serve the congressman’s constituents with loyalty and fidelity,” his attorney, Louis M. Barbone, wrote in a statement to News themezone and other media on Thursday. “He did so while he was a full-time student. Under the law, he is presumed innocent and reserves all his defenses for presentation in a court of law.”

Van Drew’s office issued a statement Wednesday.

“We are deeply saddened by today’s news, and although Natalie is no longer associated with the congressman’s government office, our thoughts and prayers are with her,” the lawmaker’s office told a radio station. “We hope he gets the care he needs.”

Officers found the suspect tied up when they arrived.
Officers found the suspect tied up when they arrived.

United States Attorney’s Office