Americans Lost $4 Million To Fake Psychic Plot, Prosecutors Say
Summary
Mael Chemla was extradited from Germany to the United States to face charges over an alleged fake-psychic scheme that prosecutors say took more than $4 million from Americans. He appeared in federal court in Miami and is presumed innocent unless convicted.Key Facts
- Prosecutors allege the scheme sent thousands of people letters promising a financial windfall in exchange for an upfront fee.
- The alleged scheme collected money from September 2016 through November 2020.
- Prosecutors say Chemla deposited victims’ checks into U.S. accounts under fake psychics’ names and wired the money to European accounts controlled by a co-conspirator.
- The Justice Department said many people targeted were elderly or otherwise vulnerable; it did not give a precise victim count or identify their states.
- Chemla, a U.S., French, and Israeli national, faces charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud.
- Chemla was detained in Germany in May and made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Monday.
- If convicted, Chemla could face up to 20 years in prison.
- The Federal Trade Commission advises people not to pay upfront fees to claim prizes or financial rewards.
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