How did they not see this coming?: 'Psychics' indicted in $2.5 million fraud scheme

A Texas couple who allegedly posed as psychics capable of removing curses and improving their clients' love lives have been indicted on federal fraud charges after authorities say they stole more than $2.5 million from vulnerable victims, including a Washington state woman who reportedly handed over more than $2 million in cash and gold coins.

The US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington announced that Bridgette Doreen Evans, 47, who allegedly operated under the alias "Jolene Travis," and her husband, Vinnie John Uwanawich, 44, were arrested this week and charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of mail fraud.

According to prosecutors, Evans marketed psychic services on social media, targeting people struggling with grief, divorce, loneliness, and relationship troubles. She allegedly convinced victims that their personal problems stemmed from a curse attached to their finances. Evans has been convicted of similar scams twice before.

After obtaining detailed information about victims' assets, Evans allegedly instructed them to liquidate savings and investments and send the proceeds to her in cash or gold coins so she could "cleanse" the money and remove the curse. Prosecutors say she promised to return the funds once the ritual was complete, but kept nearly all of the money.

One Washington victim reportedly sent more than $2 million to Evans. Another allegedly paid $86,000 for "cleansing work," while a third victim lost more than $258,000 after Evans allegedly persuaded her to take out loans to purchase a Corvette and provide access to credit cards to settle supposed "karmic debts."

"As alleged in the indictment, 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," said First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.

Federal investigators say Evans used multiple aliases, including Jolene Travis, Joy John, and Joy Paige, and adopted the fake identities because of prior psychic fraud convictions in Florida and Texas. Prosecutors allege that even while Evans was incarcerated in Florida during part of the scheme, associates continued operating under the "Jolene Travis" persona to keep the fraud going.

Authorities say Uwanawich helped facilitate the operation by managing bank accounts, selling gold coins, transferring fraud proceeds, and reassuring victims about Evans' legitimacy. "This case is yet another demonstration of how fraudsters exploit vulnerable situations to gain their victims' trust," said FBI Seattle Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington.

The FBI said the investigation remains ongoing and is asking anyone who believes they may have been victimized by the scheme to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. If convicted, both defendants face up to 20 years in prison on the fraud-related charges.