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$600K+ stolen in complex Pennsylvania ‘fortune-telling’ scheme, duo charged

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0K+ stolen in complex Pennsylvania ‘fortune-telling’ scheme, duo charged


MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A “complex” Pennsylvania fortune-telling scheme resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being stolen and two people being charged, investigators said.

Gina Marks, 52, of Huntingdon Valley, and Steve Nicklas, 40, of Philadelphia, are accused of working together to take advantage of people and stealing more than $600,000 from 2022 to 2024, court documents filed by Montgomery County detectives show.

Marks is accused of using tarot card readings and other ritual practices to learn about a victim’s dreams, desires, and fears, investigators said. She then reportedly exploited said victim with this knowledge by offering them help with their personal and work problems.

Charging documents show how Marks was allegedly able to steal one victim’s money and property by preying on their desire to stay married and fight off “black magic.”

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Marks reportedly claimed she had to temporarily take the victim’s money and property — high-end clothing, jewelry, home gifts, gift cards, for instance — to two alleged “altars” to remove any evil. Instead of returning the items, however, investigators said Marks would string the victim along by claiming she needed more money to finish the work.

Another female victim said Marks threatened her by texting pictures of the woman and her family, making her fear what would happen if Marks’ instructions weren’t followed.

Nicklas, meanwhile, is accused of helping in these schemes, as investigators said Marks introduced him to some alleged victims.

A total of $613,959.11 in cash and property was stolen from two victims in the alleged scheme, according to court documents. The investigation began when one of the victims contacted authorities on Dec. 24, 2024.

Marks and Nicklas were arraigned on Oct. 7 and taken to prison. Online court records show they’ve since posted bail and been released.

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The duo faces felony charges of conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, in addition to misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property and fortune-telling. Though “fortune-telling” is legal in many states, a 1861 state law made it against the law, though it’s rarely enforced.



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Pennsylvania

Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police

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Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police


A man has been cited after police said he drove a vehicle into a frozen pond at a country club in Pennsylvania, left the scene, then spent the night in a hotel.

According to the East Lampeter Township Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, around 10:38 a.m., officers were called to the Lancaster Country Club after receiving reports about a vehicle in a pond.

Police said that, through an investigation, it was learned that Sung Chun, a 50-year-old man from Hoboken, New Jersey, had driven onto the property the day before around 8:30 p.m., crossed portions of the golf course, and ultimately ended up in a pond.

Chun then exited the vehicle and walked away without reporting the incident and spent the night at a nearby hotel, according to police.

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Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Police said Chun returned to the location while police were on scene investigating the incident and was ultimately cited with “Trespass by Motor Vehicle.”



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State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

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State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards


In rural Pennsylvania, State College houses Penn State against a backdrop of beautiful country scenery. The university hosts many events, arts performances, and lively festivals that give the town year-round excitement that blends student life with local charm. Visitors can attend a football game, explore nearby parks and trails, and savor the town’s growing culinary scene of pubs and local eateries.



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What the war with Iran could mean for gas prices in western Pennsylvania

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What the war with Iran could mean for gas prices in western Pennsylvania


The war with Iran could start impacting your wallet as soon as today.

Jim Garrity from AAA East Central says oil prices are up.

“They’re hovering around $72. They were pretty consistently around $65, $66 for a while,” he said.

Nationally, AAA said the average for a gallon of regular sits at about $3, up approximately six cents from last week.

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In Pennsylvania, it’s around $3.12 a gallon, and in the Pittsburgh region, it’s around $3.24 a gallon. That’s actually down about four cents from last week.

Garrity added that gas prices this time of year would already be increasing, usually because of higher demand for the warmer months and the production of the summer blend of gas used for those months.

The impacts of what’s happening in Iran may not be immediate, which could be part of why our region and the state overall have not seen a spike yet, he said.

“It could be a couple of days later. It could be up to a week later,” Garrity said.

A lot of people are watching what happens with the Strait of Hormuz. Iran borders it to the north, and 20% of the world’s oil goes through it.

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Iran is one of the world’s biggest oil producers, and China gets a lot of that oil.

“If there is an impact there, you could see oil start to come in from other parts of the world, which has a downstream effect on [the United States],” Garrity said.

One way you can save on gas if prices increase in our area is by slowing down.

“When you drive faster every five miles, over 50 miles an hour, your fuel efficiency is going down,” Garrity said. “You’re making the car work harder, making the gasoline consumption less effective.”

Garrity added that in 2022, when our area and many others saw some of the highest gas prices ever recorded, people changed their driving habits.

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“We saw people make seemingly permanent changes to their driving behaviors, driving less in general, consolidating trips,” he said.



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