Palm-reader, accused of scamming customer, charged with felony theft

SEATTLE, May 22 (UPI) -- A Seattle-area psychic was charged with felony theft after she allegedly scammed one customer out of nearly $30,000, court records showed.

Palm reader Paula Ann Adams, 36, of Issaquah allegedly persuaded a woman in the midst of a divorce and seeking spiritual guidance to "cleanse" her money, which she said was the source of her troubles, and give it to Adams, seattlepi.com reported Tuesday.

The victim allegedly visited Adams 12 times, paid her hundreds of dollars for palm readings, and brought $25,000 in cash and $4,000 in Nordstrom gift cards to Adams for cleansing, court papers showed.

After Bellevue police got a report Adams had taken $25,000 from a woman, they began investigating Adams in February.

Adams spent six of the eight $500 gift cards the night she got them, investigators said.

After the victim sent text messages to Adams demanding the return of the money and cards, a detective posed as a customer at Adams' storefront. Officers raided Adams' home and office, seizing property and keys to safe deposit boxes containing cash as evidence, police said.

An associate of Adams who said he was a gypsy tribunal counsel leader allegedly tried to bribe King County prosecutors in Seattle on May 7 with $4,000 to get rid of the charges, Deputy Prosecutor Christine Keating said.

Adams was charged with one count of first-degree theft and five counts of second-degree theft.