http://www.gazette.net/stories/011606/chevnew155459_31955.shtmlThree charged in fortune-telling scheme
Monday, Jan. 16, 2006
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by Chris Williams
Staff Writer
Police arrested three Chevy Chase residents on fortune telling and theft scheme charges Thursday, for convincing a Poolesville woman to give them more than $100,000 by telling her she was cursed, police said.
Grace Uwanawich, 60, her husband George Uwanawich, 55, and her daughter Christine Kelly Miller, 26, all of the 8800 block of Connecticut Avenue, are being held on $1 million bond each at the Montgomery County Detention Center. Police charged the three with theft scheme over $500, conspiracy to commit a theft scheme and fortune telling.
On Jan. 6, police said a 56-year-old Poolesville woman reported to the Montgomery County Police Fraud Section that she had been the victim of a fortuneteller. She told police she was at the Lakeforest mall in December 2004 when she met Grace Uwanawich, who presented herself as ‘‘Mrs. Grace,??? a Native American psychic. The woman said she agreed to make an appointment with Uwanawich, who also used the name ‘‘Grace Miller.
Over the course of several readings beginning with a January 2005 appointment, the victim also met George Uwanawich and Miller, who identified themselves as ‘‘George Miller??? and ‘‘Kelly Miller,??? police said.
Grace Uwanawich told the woman that she had centuries-old curse against her and her family that would cause members of her family to never be happy, make or keep money, and that her relationships would suffer because of it, police said. ‘‘Mrs. Grace??? told the woman that she could remove the curse, but that the woman would have to bring her all her cash to have the money ‘‘cleansed through a formal ritual,??? police said.
‘‘This poor victim was truly taken in and was very fearful,??? police spokeswoman Lucille Baur said. ‘‘So the extent of the influence that this group had over her is unusual.
Since February 2005, police said the woman provided more than $100,000 in cash to Miller, as well as gift certificates and wire transfers. The Uwanawich family also persuaded the woman to purchase a car, but told her that she would not be allowed to drive it until the curse was lifted, police said.
While fortune telling is illegal in Montgomery County, it is a misdemeanor charge punishable by a $200 fine, Baur said. The more serious offense the three defendants face is the theft scheme over $500 charge, a felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, she said.
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