By Tim Binnall
A Texas couple's future could unfold behind bars after authorities arrested the pair for allegedly stealing more than $2 million from desperate people who thought they were paying for psychic services. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, Bridgette Doreen Evans and Vinnie John Uwanawich were taken into custody earlier this week after a federal grand jury issued a staggering nine indictments related to the sinister scheme. Specifically, the duo has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and four counts of wire fraud.
In detailing the case against the couple, authorities contend that Evans portrayed herself as psychic 'Jolene Travis' on social media, where she lured "people who were struggling with romantic or personal problems" into her proverbial web of deception with promises that she could "perform readings and rituals to determine the cause of their misfortune." As one may have surmised, in each instance wherein she connected with a client, the purported mystic found that their troubles were connected to a hex looming over them. "After asking for a detailed accounting of the victims’ financial holdings," authorities say, "she would tell the victim the only way to remove the curse was to liquidate the holdings and send the money in gold coins or cash so that she could 'cleanse' the money."
Promising to return the funds once the ritual was completed, Evans managed to keep the unwitting individuals under her spell by sending "some small amounts to clients to lull them into further trusting her." Three people are said to have been ensnared by the pernicious plot, with one handing over $86,000, another who was "defrauded of more than $258,000," and a third unfortunate Washington resident who shockingly gave the 'psychic' more than $2 million. Meanwhile, authorities say, Uwanawich assisted in the scheme by allegedly "managing bank accounts that received payments from victims, selling gold coins, transferring and spending fraud proceeds, and vouching for Evans with victims."
Incredibly, at one point during the long-running con, the faux mystic was actually serving time in a Florida prison for similar psychic shenanigans, so Uwanawich also assumed the online persona to perpetuate the scam. "These perpetrators of 'fortune teller fraud' came into the lives of these victims at a time when their judgment was clouded by emotional loss and feelings of hopelessness," U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd mused about the case, "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." With each of the nine federal charges carrying a 20-year sentence, the couple is facing considerable prison time if convicted.