'Psychic' Arrested For Bilking Woman To 'Remove Curse'

A self-proclaimed psychic and fortune-teller who charged a Rockville woman more than $77,000 to remove a curse was arrested in New York on a theft charge.

Shanice Bell, 35, was arrested Oct. 2 on a Maryland warrant in Queens, NY, by the New York Police Department. The suspect is also known as “Psychic Gina” and “Erica Ufie.”

City of Rockville Police say the reputed psychic ran a fortune-telling scheme to defraud a 53-year old victim while operating a fortune-telling business in a home in the 200 block of Twinbrook Parkway in Rockville.

On April 10, the Rockville City Police Department was contacted by the victim, who alleged she had visited with “Psychic Gina,” over a period of six months at a home in the 200 block of Twinbrook Parkway. Bell allegedly told the victim a curse had been placed on her at birth and that harm would come to her and her family unless the victim gave her cash and gift cards to perform spiritual “curse removal work.”

Police charge that from October 2014 to March 2015, the victim gave Bell more than $77,000 in cash and property. When the victim demanded the return of the money and property, Bell fled from Maryland.

Rockville police determined a possible location for Bell. An arrest warrant was obtained charging her with theft scheme $10,000 to under $100,000 and theft $10,000 to under $100,000.

The victim told Rockville Police Investigators that she had contracted the services of private investigator Bob Nygaard for help locating Bell. Nygaard tracked the suspect to a fortune-telling parlor known as Sunnyside Psychic in Queens, NY. Upon confirmation of her identity, Bell was taken into custody without incident by police officers while she was shopping in Queens.

Bell is being held at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island in New York pending extradition to Rockville.

Anyone who has been defrauded by Bell is asked to contact the Rockville City Police Department at 240-314-8938.

»Photo of Shanice Bell courtesy of the New York Department of Corrections.