While Priscilla Delmaro was in jail awaiting trial on fraud charges in 2015, her mother-in-law Christine Evans kept her fortunetelling parlor open. Eventually law enforcement came for her, also. She was arrested for fortunetelling and fraud, among other charges.
In November, 2015 Ms. Delmaro pled guilty to one count of grand larceny in exchange for a sentence of one year in prison. The judge also entered a judgment of more than $500,000 against her but she's not required to pay it as restitution, which is bad news for the victim in the case. He had gone to the police to complain that he had paid her more than $700,000. Ms. Delmaro was released in January, 2016.
The New York Penal Code section forbidding fortunetelling is 165.35.
A person is guilty of fortune telling when, for a fee or compensation which he directly or indirectly solicits or receives, he claims or pretends to tell fortunes, or holds himself out as being able, by claimed or pretended use of occult powers, to answer questions or give advice on personal matters or to exorcise, influence or affect evil spirits or curses;  except that this section does not apply to a person who engages in the aforedescribed conduct as part of a show or exhibition solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement.
Fortune telling is a class B misdemeanor.
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