Gina Marks

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Gina Marks
Marks in Miami International Airport
Born
Gina Marie Marks

(1973-01-25) January 25, 1973 (age 51)[1]
New York[1]
Other namesRegina Milbourne,[1] Zara Margazio, Regina Miller, Gina Mylkos, Melinda Mylkos, Amanda Marks,[2] Gina Diprima,[3] Amanda Gina Marks[3] Jill
Occupation(s)Psychic, writer
Criminal statusConvicted felon (2018)
SpouseSunny Miller[4]
ChildrenHillarie Miller[6]
Parent(s)John Uwanawich[5] and Betty Jo Ephraim aka Helen Uwanawich aka Estee Lee[4]
Criminal chargeGrand theft, violating probation, fraud
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Gina Marie Marks (born January 25, 1973) is an American psychic and convicted fraudster. Using the pseudonym of Regina Milbourne,[1] she co-authored Miami Psychic: Confessions of a Confidante, a memoir published by HarperCollins in 2006.[4][6][7][8][9]

In August 2018, Marks' career as a psychic con-artist, and the decade-long pursuit by detective Bob Nygaard to bring her to justice, were portrayed on an episode of the CBS series Pink Collar Crimes titled "The Psychic Didn't See Him Coming".[10][11][12]

In 2018 Marks pleaded guilty to defrauding five victims out of more than $340,000, but blamed her prosecution on racism against Romani people.[13] In September 2018, she was sentenced to six years in prison.[14][15]

Criminal activity

Marks has had numerous arrests and convictions in Florida for defrauding clients out of large sums of money while claiming to use psychic powers to help them:

  • In 2007, Marks pleaded no contest to grand theft charges related to an agreement to "cleanse souls" for a total of $65,000. She was then put on probation for eighteen months and ordered to return the money back to her clients. In 2009, she was arrested again for a similar crime.[9]
  • In 2010, she was again arrested in Florida for a defrauding of over $300,000 and for violating probation.[16] A month later, while still in Broward County Jail, she was arraigned again on further fraud charges which involved another victim who came forward due to media exposure following Marks' earlier arrest.[17]
  • On September 1, 2010, Marks pleaded guilty to grand theft and two counts of organized fraud. In addition she admitted to violating her probation. At her sentencing, Marks handed over a $400,000 check to partially repay her former clients.[18]
  • On April 2, 2014, in another case, Marks was sentenced to 10 years of probation.[19][20][21]
  • In 2018, Marks was convicted of stealing more than $340,000 from five victims over three years using the pseudonym Natalie Miller. Although she pleaded guilty to psychic fraud charges, Marks blamed her misfortune on anti-Romani sentiment, saying "They're racist on my culture. We do have power. We're not allowed to talk about it."[13]

Investigating a psychic fraud case involving Marks in 2008 marked the beginning of South Florida private investigator Bob Nygaard's "psychic hunting" career. Nygaard also brought Marks to justice in 2010 and 2016, culminating in her 2018 conviction for the theft of over $340,000.[13][22][23][24] In September 2018, Marks was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay restitution to her victims, with the judge stating that Marks' actions were premeditated and she preyed on vulnerable people.[14][15]

Pink Collar Crimes

On August 11, 2018, CBS broadcast an episode of its true crime TV show, Pink Collar Crimes, titled "The Psychic Didn't See Him Coming". The episode recounts the story of private eye Bob Nygaard and his numerous pursuits of Marks to obtain justice for his clients between 2008 and 2018, which culminated in Mark's 2018 conviction.[10][11][12]

Miami Psychic

Main article: Miami Psychic

Marks is the co-author of Miami Psychic: Confessions of a Confidante, published by HarperCollins in 2006. The book purports to be a true memoir about a psychic named Regina Milbourne, who used her supposed paranormal gifts to help many of Miami's least desirable element: drug dealers, thieves, murderers and pedophiles. Regina claims that she "comes clean" in the book, "divulging the unimaginable horrors and shocking confessions that she witnessed throughout her career".[25]

Personal life

Marks is married to Sunny Miller,[4] and has a daughter, Hillarie Miller.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Possible Curse Removal Scam". Seminolesheriff.org. Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  2. ^ Scouten, Ted (2 April 2014). "No Jail Time For Woman Accused Of Scamming Elderly Man". Miami.cbslocal.com. CBS. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b Roustan, Wayne K. (11 February 2014). "Woman, 26, sought after 'borrowing' $20,000 from man, 86". Sun-sentinel.com. Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Norman, Bob (13 July 2006). "Psych Job". Miaminewtimes.com. Miami New Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  5. ^ Norman, Bob (21 February 2008). "Cops and Gypsies". Browardpalmbeach.com. Broward Palm Beach New Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Swenson, Kyle (6 June 2013). "How Modern Fortunetellers Pull Off Their Scams". Miaminewtimes.com. Miami New Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  7. ^ Alanez, Tonya (1 September 2010). "South Florida psychic gets 18 months for theft, fraud". Sun-sentinel.com. Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  8. ^ Grimm, Fred (29 July 2013). "In South Florida, psychic fraud is a family affair". Miamiherald.com. Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. ^ a b Hamacher, Brian (9 October 2009). "Prison Prediction for Psychic Scammer". Nbcmiami.com. NBC Miami. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b "The Psychic Didn't See Him Coming". TV Guide. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  11. ^ a b Vaughn, Jacob (6 August 2018). "Meet The Private Investigator Who Cracks Down on Fraudulent Psychics". Dallasobserver.com. Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Pink Collar Crimes – The Tip Of The Iceberg". MSN.com. MSN. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  13. ^ a b c McAfee, David G. (11 February 2018). ""Psychic" Convicted of Stealing $340K from Her Clients, Blames Racism Against Gypsies". Patheos.com. Patheos. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  14. ^ a b Stone, Shomari; Cook, Gina (24 September 2018). "Montgomery County 'Psychic' Sentenced to 6 Years for Scamming Clients". nbcwashington.com. NBC. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  15. ^ a b Morse, Dan (24 September 2018). "'Just outrageous:' Maryland psychic cons $341,000 from five clients". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  16. ^ Olmeda, Rafael A. (17 March 2010). "Professed Psychic is Accused of Taking $300,000 from Client". pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  17. ^ Olmeda, Rafael A. (27 April 2010). "New charges filed against accused Broward 'psychic'". sun-sentinel.com. Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  18. ^ Norman, Bob (2 September 2010). "Catering to Corruption". Browardpalmbeach.com. Broward Palm Beach New Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  19. ^ Kennedy, Ben (2 April 2014). "Gina Marks sentenced to 10 years of probation". Local10.com. ABC. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  20. ^ Pesantes, Erika (2 April 2014). "Woman gets 10 years of probation in swindling case". Sun-sentinel.com. Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Woman Sentenced to 10 Years Probation For Swindling 85-Year-Old Man". NBCmiami.com. NBC. 2 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  22. ^ Norman, Bob (1 September 2017). "So-called psychic arrested at Miami International Airport on grand theft charge". Local10.com. ABC Local 10. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  23. ^ Fitzgerald, Meagan (11 September 2017). "'Psychic' Accused of Swindling Maryland Woman Out of $82,000". NBCwashington.com/news/local/Psychic-Swindles-Maryland-Woman-Out-of-82000-443812333.html. NBC. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  24. ^ McAfee, David G. (21 August 2017). "This Ex-Cop Has Locked Up 28 'Psychic' Scammers, Returned $3.2M to Victims". Patheos.com. Patheos. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Miami Psychic: Confessions of a Confidante". Amazon.com. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
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