Originally Posted - June 29, 2006

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QUEENS---Three Astoria women claiming to be psychics have been charged with fortune telling following an investigation in which undercover officers posed as clients interested in obtaining readings. In one case, it is charged that the alleged psychic defrauded one of the officers of more than $1,000 by claiming to be able to perform exorcism rites to remove evil spirits.

District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the defendants as Sabrina Martell (a/k/a Sabrina Mitchell), 42, of 47-02 30th Avenue; Dorothy Miller, 53, of 32-14 30th Avenue; and Rose Miller (a/k/a Rosa), 73, of 37-17 30th Avenue, all of Astoria.

Martell is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud and fortune telling. The Millers, who are not related, are each charged with petit larceny and fortune telling. If convicted, Martell faces up to four years in prison and the Millers each face up to one year in jail.

District Attorney Brown pointed out that under New York State law a person cannot hold him or herself out as a fortune teller and claim to use occult powers to answer questions, give advice or exorcise evil spirits or curses unless it is stated that the readings are done for entertainment or amusement purposes only.

Brown said that, according to the criminal charges filed against the defendant Martell, two undercover officers posing as "psychic" clients met various times with the defendant - often at her place of business at 47-02 30th Avenue which advertised "Readings By Julia" on an outside window - between March 28 and June 27 and paid her $25 on at least two occasions for her purported psychic services and advice. During the course of this three-month period the defendant allegedly told one undercover agent that she could remove evil spirits for an extra $900 and that she saw "problems" in the second undercover's life.

The complaint additionally charges that the defendant told the second undercover that someone had given her mother something bad to eat when she was inside her mother's womb and requested $1,300 from the undercover to bring her ex-boyfriend back and fix a jealousy that another woman had on her. On one occasion, the defendant allegedly performed a purported ritual to determine if God's will was present; specifically, the defendant had the undercover tie three knots on a string, which were allegedly gone when the defendant rolled the string up into a ball. However, the undercover observed the defendant switch the string. The defendant was arrested on June 27when the undercover handed the defendant $1,100 that she had allegedly previously requested.

Finally, it is charged that on March 21 and March 28, 2006, the undercover officer entered Rose Miller's business establishment at 37-17 30th Avenue, which had the words "Psychic Readings by Rosa" on a wooden stand outside the entrance. On each occasion, the undercover allegedly paid the defendant $35 for a psychic tarot card reading and the defendant made purported psychic predictions after stating that she could tell the officer's future. In all three cases, it is alleged that the defendants never stated nor there were signs anywhere on their premises indicting that their psychic readings or services were for entertainment purposes only.

District Attorney Brown noted that the investigation is continuing and requested that victims of similar crimes come forward and contact his office. 6-29-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette