Investigators say psychic scammed customers

By BETH BURGER

ONECO --They brought her their money in hopes of being blessed.

Instead, authorities say, they ended up bilked.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is investigating a palm reader, Senora Sara, who allegedly ran off with nearly $25,000, court records show.

According to a search warrant released Friday, the operation worked like this:

Customers, at least 15 of them, would come to the business, Bontanica Mexico, in the 5000 block of 15th Street East, to have their palms read for $10.

The palm reader, known as Senora Sara, would tell them they had some type of ailment or possible danger in the future.

Then, she offered a solution.

In return for a fee of about $300, Senora Sara promised to take their money - between $1,000 and $5,000 - to a church to have it blessed with spiritual oil. The customers were told to return to pick it up three days later.

The blessing, she said, would bring good fortune and ward off perils ahead.

But when the customers returned to pick up the lucky cash, the doors to the business were locked and the lights were out.

Many of the customers had learned about the business because the man who rented out the space in the Oneco Plaza, had passed out fliers to Hispanic neighborhoods and advertised at the Midway Flea Market. That man went by the name of Carlos Farias, but authorities don't know if that is a true identity.

As of Friday afternoon, the lights of the business remained out. The doors were still locked. Shelves had sparsely scattered miniature figurines of Buddha, Jesus and crosses.

Alisha Hefner, 18, of Bradenton, purchased a dead humming bird for $5 from the business.

"They lady told me it would bring good luck and love," she said.

Hefner said she was surprised to hear about the money.

"It's crazy. You wouldn't even think of something like that," she said. "I didn't even know they did palm readings. I just thought they sold candles and knickknacks."

A business owner in the same plaza told authorities he saw the couple with a small white trailer removing items from the store just a few days before the investigation began.

The couple was renting a residence in Sarasota. When authorities went to look for the duo, they were informed by neighbors that the couple had left several days ago.

It's believed the couple could be driving one of the following vehicles: green Mustang, white Ford Explorer, Lexus or a two-door Buick. They are said to be pulling a small, white trailer.

The investigation is continuing. If found, the couple could face charges of grand theft and scheming to defraud.

On Thursday, the business was searched, and authorities got fingerprints off of items in the store.

Anyone with information about the couple can call the sheriff's office at 747-3011.