Are there any cures out there?
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Fortune-teller charged with conning 2 clients out of 91G
By JENNIFER JENKINS
[email hidden]
Police arrested a 38-year-old fortune-teller yesterday, saying the
woman conned two clients out of more than $91,000 combined.
Julie Lee Stevens, owner of "Psychic Readings by Miss Lee" on Sansom
Street near 18th, is a "member of a Gypsy family" has operated in
Philadelphia for about two years, according to officials with the
Major Crimes Division.
Police arrested Stevens after they received a complaint from one of
the victims.
She is being charged with felony theft and related crimes.
Stevens told the victims they had a "negative energy" and demanded
money and gifts in exchange for treatment, police said.
Stevens also threatened to put a "Gypsy hex" on the victims, making
them sick with serious diseases such as cancer if they did not pay
her, said officers with the Crimes Against the Retired and Elderly
Division.
In Pennsylvania it is a crime "to pretend for gain or lucre to tell
fortunes or predict future events, by cards, tokens, the inspection of
the head or hands of any person, or by the age of anyone, or by
consulting the movements of the heavenly bodies, or in any other
manner," according to the crimes code.
Police estimate there are at least 75 fortune telling businesses in
Philadelphia but police said the crime is hard to monitor.
As of Tuesday, police had identified two victims - a woman in her 30s
who lost $21,000 and a man in his 50s who police estimate lost
$70,000.
Capt. John McGinnis withheld the names of the two victims.
He said he believes there are more victims who have yet to come
forward and police urge them to do so.
"This woman [Stevens] has no conscience. She steals people's life
savings," McGinnis said.
"We want victims to come forward and we're not going to think
they're foolish, we want to help them, and possibly get their money
back."
For more information call 215- 685-9486.