Unfortunately psychics are like Hydra from “Captain America” comics; cut off one head, two more will rise.
Taken from the Palm Beach Post
PALM BEACH COUNTY COURTS
Psychic-scam defendant gets 4 years in prison and ordered to repay $2.2 million
By Jane Musgrave
Palm Beach Post Staff WriterWEST PALM BEACH —
A top lieutenant in a far-flung and lucrative fortune-telling business on Monday was sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay $2.2 million restitution to her victims.
Her attorney tried to persuade U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Marra that 44-year-old Nancy Marks deserved leniency. As member of the Romany culture, where women have worked as psychics for centuries, she didn’t know what she was doing was wrong, said attorney Michael Gottlieb.
Nancy Marks’ sentence signals that Rose Marks, 62, is likely to be sent to prison for a long time and ordered to pay a large amount in restitution — likely at least $17.8 million — when she is sentenced March 3, lawyers for both sides said. She has been in federal custody since she was convicted in September of 14 charges in connection with the operation that lured victims from storefronts in New York City and Fort Lauderdale.
“They would make people think they were helping them when they were going through these crises when all they were trying to do was extracting money from them regardless of their emotional or mental health,” he said.
Nancy Marks received the harshest punishment of the seven family members who have been sentenced for their role in what prosecutors say was a $25 million scheme. Further, it is the first time restitution has been ordered.
Marra also ordered Nancy Marks’ husband, Ricky, to pay $570,000 in restitution and her daughter, Vivian, to pay $189,000. Rose Marks’ son, Michael, was ordered to pay $394,000 to the victims.
Restitution orders are pending for other family members and one, Cynthia Miller, also awaits sentencing. Miller is Rose Marks’ other daughter-in-law.
Read the full story of these frauds and be disgusted, and lets hope this marks a trend in requiring at least regulation of psychics as frauds, if not outlawing them altogether, and restitution to their victims in full.
Follow us on FaceBook for updates and more.
