Texas couple charged in Seattle-area psychic fraud case
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SEATTLE — Federal prosecutors said two Frisco, Texas, residents were arrested on charges tied to a psychic fraud scheme that allegedly took at least $2.5 million from vulnerable victims, including more than $2 million from a person in Washington state.
Bridgette Doreen Evans, 47, and Vinnie John Uwanawich, 44, were set to make an initial court appearance in the Eastern District of Texas on charges including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud and four counts of mail fraud.
Officials said the alleged scheme ran from April 2021 to July 2024. Prosecutors said Evans used the name Jolene Travis and promoted psychic services on social media to reach people dealing with divorce, grief and isolation.
Federal investigators said Evans told victims she could identify the source of their bad luck through readings and rituals. She then allegedly claimed a curse was attached to their money and told them to cash out assets and send gold or cash so she could cleanse it and send it back.
“As alleged in the indictment, these perpetrators of fortune teller fraud came into the lives of these victims at a time when their judgement was clouded by emotional loss and feelings of hopelessness,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington. “Ms. Evans preyed upon their needs, convincing victims that she could remove a curse and help them find love. In truth her scheme was simply to help herself to their wealth, leaving them further devastated.”
Prosecutors said Evans returned small amounts in some cases to build trust but kept most of the money. One victim allegedly sent more than $2 million for cleansing tied to an alleged curse.
Court records also alleged a second victim sent $86,000 in electronic payments. A third victim lost more than $258,000 after being convinced to take out loans to buy a Corvette for Evans and hand over credit card access to pay supposed karmic debts.
Prosecutors said Uwanawich helped run the scheme by handling bank accounts, selling gold coins, moving money and backing Evans with victims.
The indictment also alleged Evans used a fake identity because of prior psychic fraud convictions in Florida and Texas. Prosecutors said that while Evans was incarcerated in Florida during part of the scheme, co-conspirators kept using the Jolene Travis name to continue the fraud.
The FBI said the investigation continued and asked anyone who believes they may have been targeted to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
If convicted, each defendant could face up to 20 years in prison.
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