Psychics reach out to celebs for money

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 24 (UPI) -- A Florida family of psychics accused of operating a $40 million fraud scheme has set up a Twitter account aimed at raising money for their legal defense.

Through the Twitter account, matriarch Rose Marks has reached out to celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, finance expert Suze Orman and even televangelist Joel Osteen, asking them for money for their legal defense, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

Marks said Wednesday she hopes celebrities and others will help pay for their living expenses and legal fees.

"I haven't got anything ... nothing yet, but I'm working on it. I'm trying," Marks said. "I don't know any other way [to raise money]."

Marks and nine of her family members were arrested on federal charges of defrauding their customers of $40 million. Prosecutors said the family preyed on clients of their storefront psychic businesses in Fort Lauderdale.

The federal charges allege the Marks family members told customers they could tell the future, cure diseases, chase away evil spirits and remove curses in exchange for money, jewelry and other valuable items.

The family has been banned from working as fortune tellers or spiritual healers while the federal criminal case is pending.