Sherri Papini is an American woman who gained national attention in 2016 after claiming she had been abducted while jogging near her home in Redding, California. The case drew widespread media coverage due to the unusual circumstances and an intensive search effort. In 2022, federal investigators determined that the kidnapping had been a hoax, and Papini was charged with making false statements to federal law enforcement and mail fraud. She later pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her case became a prominent example of law enforcement resources diverted by false reports.