Couple Arrested In ‘fortune Teller Fraud’ That Milked $2.5m From Customers For A Financial ‘cleanse’: Doj

A Texas mates has been arrested successful what national prosecutors are calling a “fortune teller fraud” that allegedly milked millions of dollars from victims for a financial “cleanse.”

Bridgette Doreen Evans, 47, and her husband, Vinnie John Uwanawich, 44, of Frisco, Texas, person been accused by nan Department of Justice of stealing astatine slightest $2.5 cardinal successful a years-long ruse.

The 2 were arrested past week connected an indictment from nan Western District of Washington for allegedly taking advantage of emotionally susceptible people, promising to “cleanse” them of romanticist bad luck if they turned complete their money, nan DOJ announced successful a June 10 press release.

Evans would airs arsenic a psychic named Jolene Travis, advertizing her services connected societal media to group experiencing nonaccomplishment aliases isolation, prosecutors said.

She would declare to her clients that she could execute readings and rituals, which would yet show her that their curse was tied to their finances, according to prosecutors.

Evans would past allegedly show her clients that they had to nonstop her their money successful golden coins aliases rate truthful she could cleanse it and region nan curse.

Her clients were nether nan belief that Evans would return their money aft she cleansed it, according to prosecutors.

While Evans did return mini amounts of money to her clients to make them spot her more, nan immense mostly of nan $2.5 cardinal she stole was ne'er paid back, prosecutors said.

At slightest 3 group were victims of nan alleged scheme, which nan mates ran from April 2021 to July 2024, according to nan DOJ.

One unfortunate mislaid much than $258,000 erstwhile Evans persuaded her to get loans to bargain a Corvette to beryllium delivered to Evans and to springiness Evans entree to her in installments cards to salary disconnected her “karmic debts,” prosecutors said.

Evans allegedly convinced different 1 of her clients to nonstop her $86,000 successful physics payments.

For his portion successful nan alleged scheme, Uwanawich managed slope accounts that received nan money from his wife’s clients and sold golden coins, according to nan DOJ. He besides allegedly vouched for Evans pinch nan victims and spent their money.

“As alleged successful nan indictment, these perpetrators of ‘fortune teller fraud’ came into nan lives of these victims astatine a clip erstwhile their judgement was clouded by affectional nonaccomplishment and feelings of hopelessness,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd from nan Western District of Washington said successful a statement.

“Ms. Evans preyed upon their needs, convincing victims that she could ‘remove a curse’ and thief them find love. In truth her strategy was simply to thief herself to their wealth, leaving them further devastated,” Floyd added.

The mates has been charged pinch 1 count of conspiracy to perpetrate ligament and message fraud, 4 counts of ligament fraud, and 4 counts of message fraud. The charges are each punishable by up to 20 years successful prison.

Evans was antecedently convicted of psychic fraud successful Florida and Texas, according to prosecutors.