A King County woman sent more than $2 million to a Texas woman posing as a psychic who claimed she could remove a curse, reunite lost lovers, and communicate with angels, according to a federal indictment.
Prosecutors say Bridgette Evans, 47, of Frisco, Texas, and her partner, Vinnie Uwanawich, 44, orchestrated a years-long scheme that targeted emotionally vulnerable people and ultimately stole at least $2.5 million from victims across the country.
The pair were arrested this week on charges including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of mail fraud, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Seattle.
One of the alleged victims lived in King County and lost more than $2 million after being convinced her money, home, and other assets were tied to a supernatural curse, according to court documents.
“As alleged in the indictment, these perpetrators of ‘fortune teller fraud’ came into the lives of these victims at a time when their judgment was clouded by emotional loss and feelings of hopelessness,” First Assistant US Attorney Charles Floyd said in a statement.
“Ms. Evans preyed upon their needs, convincing victims that she could ‘remove a curse’ and help them find love. In truth her scheme was simply to help herself to their wealth, leaving them further devastated,” Floyd said.
According to the indictment, Evans operated under the alias “Jolene Travis” and advertised psychic services on social media aimed at people struggling with divorce, grief, loneliness, depression, and relationship problems.
Prosecutors allege Evans told victims she could communicate telepathically with angels and deceased loved ones and claimed their romantic problems and financial troubles stemmed from curses or “karmic debts.”
Victim sold home, bought gold coins
The indictment paints an extraordinary picture of how prosecutors say the scheme worked.
After gaining victims’ trust, Evans allegedly instructed them to provide detailed information about their finances. She then claimed the victims’ money, homes or assets were connected to a curse and needed to be temporarily surrendered for a “financial cleansing.”
Prosecutors say the King County victim initially sought help with relationship problems in 2021.
Evans allegedly told the woman she had a “dark cloud” hanging over her and that a former romantic partner still had feelings for her. The psychic further claimed the relationship could be restored if the victim followed instructions to clear a money-related curse, according to the indictment.
Federal prosecutors allege Evans eventually convinced the woman to liquidate financial accounts, wire more than $2.1 million to gold dealers and then mail or personally deliver the gold coins to Florida.
The indictment further alleges Evans persuaded the victim to sell her home because it was supposedly part of the curse. Prosecutors say she was also convinced to take a lump-sum divorce settlement rather than monthly alimony payments so the money could be converted into gold coins for additional “cleansing” rituals.
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‘Angels’ demanded more money
The indictment alleges Evans repeatedly told victims that “angels” said additional money was needed to strengthen the cleansing process. Victims were allegedly warned that they or their loved ones could suffer serious consequences — including death or suicidal thoughts — if the rituals were not completed.
Another victim allegedly sent more than $86,000 for cleansing work, according to prosecutors. A third victim allegedly gave Evans access to credit cards that were later used for luxury purchases, hotel stays, airline flights, jewelry and gold coins.
That victim was also allegedly convinced to take out a loan exceeding $100,000 to purchase a $125,000 Chevrolet Corvette that prosecutors say was delivered to Evans in Florida as part of a cleansing ceremony.
Federal investigators say Evans never returned most of the money and property she promised to cleanse and return.
Previous fraud convictions hidden
Prosecutors allege Evans used the “Jolene Travis” identity partly to conceal previous psychic fraud convictions in Florida and Texas.
The indictment also alleges the fraud continued even while Evans was incarcerated in Florida on an unrelated psychic fraud case. Prosecutors say co-conspirators assumed the “Jolene Travis” persona and continued communicating with victims while claiming the psychic was in “isolation,” “at the altar” or “with the angels.”
Investigators further allege Uwanawich helped manage financial accounts, received victim payments, met victims in person and vouched for Evans’ legitimacy.
“This case is yet another demonstration of how fraudsters exploit vulnerable situations to gain their victims’ trust, even creating fake identities in an attempt to evade accountability and further schemes that last years,” FBI Seattle Special Agent in Charge W. Herrington said in a statement.
“The schemes may change, but the greed driving them does not. The FBI and our partners will follow the money to unravel these scams and ensure the conspirators responsible face the consequences of their actions,” Herrington said.
The FBI continues to investigate the case.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
