New charges against pair in Las Vegas ‘psychic readings’ $1M scam
Prosecutors leveled new charges Wednesday against a man and woman accused of bilking more than $1 million from a lawyer who responded to a flyer for “psychic readings.”
Sherry Marks, 52, and David Marks, 48, each face 14 counts of theft, one count of extortion and one count of multiple transactions involving fraud or deceit in the course of occupation or enterprise.
Another woman, Rita Stevens, has been named in the case as an uncharged co-conspirator, and Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Mishler has said that charges could be filed against a third woman, identified in court records as Peaches Marks.
Authorities have described the case as an elaborate, monthslong scam that netted cash, jewels, airfare and a pair of $130,000 BMWs.
More than a year ago, Stacey Tokunaga, 56, who focuses on workers’ compensation law in California and Nevada, called a number she found on a flyer for a tarot card reading, according to court papers.
“Sherry Marks’ and Rita Stevens’ supposed psychic abilities revealed that Stacey Tokunaga had a ‘sickness,’ the charges filed Wednesday stated. “The only way Stacey Tokunaga could be healed of her sickness and/or achieve happiness was for Stacey Tokunaga to provide the defendants with money and/or purchases various items.”
The lawyer made hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash withdrawals, cash advances, signed cashier’s checks, allowed the defendants to use her credit cards, gave them jewelry and bought them two luxury sedans, after they promised that she would be “cleansed,” the court papers stated.
In court Wednesday, lawyers for David and Sherry Marks, told Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure that they needed more time to review the new charges.
While Sherry Marks was being detained on $40,000 bail, David Marks has been released from custody.
Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Follow @randompoker on Twitter.