Sylvia is a Piker

[SezMe]

From here (http://www.citylinkmagazine.com/cover/coverstory082102.html):

Silver’s clients forked over huge sums of cash. Besides Montenero’s offerings to Marks [a psychic], Leroy Hoffert, an 87-year-old retired auto worker dying of leukemia, gave Marks an estimated $330,000 in cash and credit card purchases. One woman, from Bermuda, gave Marks nearly $1 million to rid her family of evil spirits.

Also, regarding taking legal action:

The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office agrees. Spokesman Mike Edmondson says he doubts prosecutors would take a fraud case involving a psychic because the "beyond all reasonable doubt" standard in criminal cases is too high. In civil cases, a plaintiff only has to prove there is a "preponderance of evidence" to win the case.

"The first standard," Edmondson says, "is to be sure a tangible service or product is being sold. In these kinds of cases, there’s no way to prove that the goods or service was received or not. That’s why civil courts were created in our state constitution, to handle people’s disputes over money."

This is in Randi's area. I hope the attorney, Silver, knows about him.

[Slimething]

Good post. I'm wondering if these scam artists have a map of the USA with wimpy DA's territories circled? Even if a conviction is not likely, a good DA can deliver a message clearly to bunko artists that they are not welcome in their jurisdiction by prosecuting them.

[Zep]

I'd say these people, and there management teams, are EXCEEDINGLY well aware of their potential territories for fleecing successfully. Same as the giant sideshow travelling evangelist bandwagons like Benny Hinn.

[AgingYoung]

I'd say these people, and there management teams, are EXCEEDINGLY well aware of their potential territories for fleecing successfully. Same as the giant sideshow travelling evangelist bandwagons like Benny Hinn.

....pikers, no doubt.

Gene

[Zep]

Yep, a speling eror. :rolleyes:

[AgingYoung]

I've always said it's a pour mynd that kan only think of wan weigh to speil a ward.

Gene

[Zep]

I've always said it's a pour mynd that kan only think of wan weigh to speil a ward.

GeneOr a dyslexic...like myself.

[joesixpack]

By "Piker", do you mean one of the so-called "Irish travelers"?

[RSLancastr]

"Piker" is slang for someone who does things in a small way, as in a small-time gambler.

piker (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/piker)

[strathmeyer]

Good post. I'm wondering if these scam artists have a map of the USA with wimpy DA's territories circled? Even if a conviction is not likely, a good DA can deliver a message clearly to bunko artists that they are not welcome in their jurisdiction by prosecuting them.

Yeah, this guy has clearly never seen Law & Order. I've seen Jack McCoy convict a murderer with no body or direct evidence.

[SezMe]

I know it is a long article, but I thought the analogy to crime syndication was one of the more interesting aspects of the case. You KNOW there has to be considerable sums of money involved if the scammers have to set up territories, pay off cops, etc.

[Slimething]

Yeah, this guy has clearly never seen Law & Order. I've seen Jack McCoy convict a murderer with no body or direct evidence.

I had in mind a quote that has been attributed to Roy Cohn of McCarthy witchhunt fame that has it that the real punishment in a lawsuit is making the other party hire a lawyer. IOW, even if no conviction is attained, the con artist will likely get the message that prosecutions will be repeated until s/he is either ruined or convicted. Then they have some incentive to move on.