Fortune-Telling Family Charged in $40M Fraud
Federal prosecutors are predicting lengthy jail time for a group of South Florida fortune tellers and spiritual advisers who were arrested for bilking customers out of over $40 million, according to an indictment released Tuesday.
Ten Fort Lauderdale “psychic readers” are facing charges of mail fraud, wife fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy in the 61-count indictment following a multi-agency, multi-state investigation dubbed “Operation Crystal Ball.”
Facing charges are Rose Marks, 60, Nancy Marks, 42, Cynthia Miller, 33, Rosie Marks, 36, Victoria Eli, 65, Vivian Marks, 21, Ricky Marks, 39, Michael Marks, 33, Donnie Eli, 38, and Peter Wolofsky, 84.
Rose Marks, Cynthia Miller, Rosie Marks, Vivian Marks, Michael Marks, and Donnie Eli were arrested Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Nancy Marks and Ricky Marks were arrested in New York. Peter Wolofsky is expected to appear in court in West Palm Beach next week. Victoria Eli is still at large.