MIAMI: A self-proclaimed psychic and fortuneteller pleaded guilty on Thursday to bilking elderly clients in south Florida out of more than $2 million over an eight-year period, federal officials said.
Linda Marks, 57, of Delray Beach, was accused of preying on the elderly and people suffering from incurable diseases, telling them she could cure them by praying over their money.
Marks pleaded guilty in US District Court to fraud and corruption charges and admitted cheating her elderly victims out of more than $2 million between 1994 and 2002, US Attorney Alexander Acosta said in a statement.
A Delray Police detective, Jack Makler, 64, pleaded guilty to corruption charges for using his position on the police force to help keep Marks out of jail and avoid violating probation, Acosta said.
Makler admitted taking money and other property from Marks at a time when he was investigating her and acknowledged lying to local and federal authorities about his handling of her cases, Acosta said.
