By rssfeeds-admin Gina Marks, 52, of Huntingdon Valley, and Steve Nicklas, 40, of Philadelphia, are accused of working together to take advantage of people and stealing more than $600,000 from 2022 to 2024, court documents filed by Montgomery County detectives show.
“The facts set forth in this affidavit demonstrate the two defendants working in concert in an elaborate fortunetelling scheme by exploiting the trust and vulnerability of two people looking to them for guidance,” the investigator wrote in the charging documents. “Gina Marks and Steve Nicklas were supposed to help the victims but instead, they deceived them for their own financial gain.”
A total of $613,959.11 in cash and property was stolen from two victims in the alleged scheme, according to court documents. The investigation began when one of the victims contacted authorities on Dec. 24, 2024.
Marks and Nicklas were arraigned Oct. 7 on their charges in front of Magisterial District Judge R. Emmett Madden and then placed in Montgomery County Prison. They are out of prison after being able to post bail, online court records state.
Marks allegedly utilized tarot card readings and other ritual practices to learn about the victim’s dreams, desires, and fears, investigators said in the charges filed. Investigators say she was then able to exploit the victims with that knowledge by offering them help with their personal and work problems.
Charging documents show how Marks was able to steal the one victim’s money and property by taking advantage of their desire to stay married and fight off “black magic.”
Marks claimed she had to temporarily take the victim’s money and other property like high-end clothing, jewelry, home gifts, gift cards, ect., to two alleged “altars” to remove any evil. Instead of returning the items, investigators said Marks would string the victim along by claiming she needed more money to finish the work.
The charges filed state that after another victim sent Marks pictures of herself, family and other people in her life, she was threatened that her reputation could be damaged and other repercussions could happen if Marks’ instructions weren’t followed.
Investigators said Marks introduced the victims to her partner Nicklas, and claimed she had to bring in help for her case.
The duo faces felony charges of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities. They also face misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property and fortune-telling.
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