Sunday, September 13, 2015

Bond denied for Albemarle psychic accused of fraud - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia News And Politics


A woman who claimed she had a “gift from God” and could see into the past and future pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges that she defrauded multiple clients, including one for more than $1.4 million.

A federal grand jury in Charlottesville indicted Sandra Marks, aka Catherine Marks, on April 22 on 31 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering.

On June 14, 2014, federal authorities — including from the Department of Homeland Security — served a search warrant at Marks’ business, Readings by Catherine, in Albemarle County. After the raid, authorities hauled four vehicles and other items away from the property.

Marks “offered services such as palm readings, candle readings, tarot card readings, astrological readings and spiritual readings” in the building on U.S. 29 north of Charlottesville, according to the indictment. She provided walk-in services to customers, some of whom “suffered from emotional distress and mental disorders, or had recently gone through personal traumatic events in their lives,” the indictment reads.

Marks allegedly received two pieces of mail in 2011 that each contained $729,000 from one of the victims. According to the indictment, she also received more than $2.1 million in total from five victims in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Colorado.

Bond denied for Albemarle psychic accused of fraud - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia News And Politics

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