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'Psychic,' detective admit partnership in scam
Associated Press
Published February 17, 2006
MIAMI - A Delray Beach police detective and a woman who claimed psychic powers pleaded guilty Thursday to fraud and corruption charges stemming from a scam in which elderly and seriously ill people were told they could be cured of disease.
Detective Jack M. Makler, 64, of Boynton Beach pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a charge of honest services fraud. Linda Marks, 57, of Delray Beach admitted to three counts of wire fraud.
During the hearing, Marks said she bilked more than $2-million from numerous victims from 1994 through 2002. She claimed she could cure their ailments by praying over their money. Makler was assigned to investigate the scam, but instead helped Marks in the fraud and money laundering, prosecutors said.
Many elderly and vulnerable people "lost their life savings through fraud," said U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta.
Sentencing was scheduled for May 10.
[Last modified February 17, 2006, 02:15:35]
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