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Pennsylvania fortune-tellers cajoled desperate victims into relinquishing high-end goods to be cleansed of ‘black magic’: report

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Pennsylvania fortune-tellers cajoled desperate victims into relinquishing high-end goods to be cleansed of ‘black magic’: report


A pair of supernatural swindlers is accused of duping their victims into forking over their personal goods, including high-end merchandise, and even blackmailing some into following their instructions all under the guise of fighting “black magic,” investigators said.

Gina Marks, 52, and Steve Nicklas, 40, both from the Philadelphia metro area, are accused of teaming up to take advantage of vulnerable people and pilfering more than $600,000 from 2022 to 2024, according to a press release from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

Steve Nicklas, 40, and Gina Marks, 52, allegedly duped unsuspecting clients out of more than $600,000. Montgomery County District Attorney

“These defendants, through their con scheme, preyed on people who were looking for help, guidance and hope, exploiting them for financial gain. They are now going to be held accountable for their actions,” District Attorney Kevin Steele said.

Their victims’ mystical misadventures began in 2022 when one called the Jenkintown Psychic Visions for a psychic reading over the phone. The suspects were quick to conclude that the victim was trapped by a “powerful curse preventing her from finding love and happiness,” the release said.

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The fortune-tellers ran the Jenkintown Psychic Visions in Pennsylvania.

The suspects convinced the frantic victim that if she didn’t have the curse removed, which they could do, then it would “destroy her marriage, business and family,” according to the release.

Over the next year, the victim continued to pay for their services and handed over wads of valuables, including jewelry, cash, clothing, and concert tickets, so that they could “cleanse” the curse.

The suspects told the woman that they needed her valuables “to complete the ritual” that would lift her curse, but the belongings were never returned, according to the release.

Marks is accused of threatening one victim with “reputational damage and personal repercussions” if she didn’t comply with her instructions.

The victim eventually stopped seeing the pair after a year of counseling. By then, the psychics had taken roughly $595,959 from her, the release said.

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Around the same time, another client was growing wary as Marks kept asking her to share “increasingly personal” photos and images under the guise of completing “rituals that would help her,” according to the release.

Between June 2023 and February 2024, Marks turned up the heat and started threatening “reputational damage and personal repercussions” if the victim didn’t fork over her Chanel purse and more money, according to the release.

Marks allegedly drained $18,000 from the second victim, prosecutors said.

Marks was previously sentenced to six years in prison for a similar scheme. wikimedia

The duo was arrested Tuesday for a laundry list of felonies, including involvement with corrupt organizations, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, and fortunetelling, according to the release.

The fortune-tellers were arraigned on Tuesday, the release said. Both were released after posting bail and are expected to appear in court on Oct. 20 for a preliminary hearing.

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It isn’t Marks’ first rodeo, though.

The serial scammer was sentenced to six years behind bars in 2018 for a similar scheme where she bilked a lovesick woman out of more than $80,000. Marks repeatedly insisted she needed larger sums of money in order to cast a love spell on the victim’s boyfriend, who had recently gotten married.

Marks attempted to flee the country, but was captured at Miami International Airport, NBC Washington reported.

At the time, she insisted she was a bona fide psychic who provided legitimate services

“People are racist from gypsies. They’re racist on my culture. We do have power. We’re not allowed to talk about it,” Marks said.

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Police hunt for masked suspects who looted a Pennsylvania Lululemon overnight

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Police hunt for masked suspects who looted a Pennsylvania Lululemon overnight


Pennsylvania police are searching for at least two masked suspects believed to have looted a Lululemon store overnight.

At least two masked men broke into a Lululemon in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, around 2 a.m. Tuesday, police told NBC 10 Philadelphia. Ardmore, a suburb of Philadelphia, is home to about 14,000 people.

The suspected thieves used a sledgehammer to break the glass on the store’s front door, according to police.

Once they gained access, the masked individuals grabbed handfuls of merchandise, security footage shows. The men went in and out of the store several times, grabbing handfuls of items that included coats, vests and shirts from the men’s section, police told local outlet WPVI.

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Surveillance footage shows at least two masked men breaking into a Pennsylvania Lululemon, police say

Surveillance footage shows at least two masked men breaking into a Pennsylvania Lululemon, police say (ABC 6/Lower Merion Police Department)

“This is taking it to another level,” Lower Merion Police Superintendent Andy Block told WPVI.

The suspects then loaded the merchandise into a U-Haul truck. Their truck was last seen at the intersection of Bryn Mawr Avenue and Woodbine Avenue, just a few miles from the store, police said.

The entire incident lasted about five minutes, which Block said is longer than usual for this type of burglary.

“Usually, it is because in a smash-and-grab situation they want to get in and get out before they’re identified or anybody’s notified on it,” Block told CBS Philadelphia.

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Block told WPVI the store is a popular target for robbers, given that many of its items cost more than $100. Now, he expects the alleged thieves have sold or exchanged the items.

“They’re using it on the market, maybe they’re exchanging it for drugs, or they’re selling it on the black market. It’s a highly sought-after item,” he told WPVI.

Thieves took off with handfuls of merchandise from a Pennsylvania Lululemon, according to police

Thieves took off with handfuls of merchandise from a Pennsylvania Lululemon, according to police (AFP via Getty Images)

Even though police say Lululemon is a popular target, Lt. Michael Keenan of the Lower Merion Police Department still called the incident “out of character.”

“This is an out of character, out of type incident where we don’t normally see people smashing windows in the middle of the night. But, certainly this is something that is distinct,” Keenan told NBC 10 Philadelphia.

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The store still opened Tuesday, with a banner covering the smashed glass on the door, according to Fox 29. Gina Picciano, a general manager at a restaurant across the street, said it was a frightening incident.

“I walked out here with my bartender and we looked, and it’s scary that it’s happening right across the way from us,” Picciano told Fox 29.

The same store was previously robbed in May 2024. Thieves stole more than $10,000 worth of merchandise during that incident, NBC 10 Philadelphia reports.

The Independent has contacted the Lower Merion Police Department and Lululemon for comment.



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Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro has $30 million for his reelection bid, a new state record

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Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro has  million for his reelection bid, a new state record


Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro set another campaign finance record for Pennsylvania with $30 million on hand as he seeks a second term this fall, his campaign said Tuesday. Pennsylvania has emerged as the nation’s premier presidential battleground state, and Shapiro’s strong showing in the 2022 governor’s race elevated his profile within the Democratic Party, where he’s viewed as a potential 2028 White House contender. In the general election, Shapiro, 52, is expected to face Stacy Garrity, the twice-elected state treasurer who has been endorsed by the state Republican Party.



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3 winning scratch-off lotto tickets totaling $7.5M sold in Pennsylvania

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3 winning scratch-off lotto tickets totaling .5M sold in Pennsylvania


RADNOR TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Three winning scratch-off tickets totaling $7.5 million were sold in Pennsylvania, lottery officials announced on Monday.

One winning “MONOPOLY Own It All” ticket worth $5 million was sold in Delaware County at the GIANT on the 500 block of East Lancaster Avenue. The grocery store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

“MONOPOLY Own It All” is a $50 game that offers top prizes of $5 million.

In Erie County, a $1.5 million-winning “Cash Spectacular” scratch-off was purchased at a Sheetz on Perry Highway. “Cash Spectacular” is a $30 game that offers top prizes of $1.5 million.

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And in Luzerne County, a $1 million-winning “Millionaire Loading” scratch-off was sold at Schiel’s Family Market in Wilkes-Barre. “Millionaire Loading” is a $20 game that offers top prizes of $1 million.

Scratch-off prizes expire one year from the game’s end-sale date posted at palottery.com.

Winners should immediately sign the back of their ticket and call the Pennsylvania Lottery at 1-800-692-7481.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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