Close X
Saturday, September 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

10 years in U.S. prison for Canadian man who stole millions with fake psychic fraud

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Apr, 2024 12:21 PM
  • 10 years in U.S. prison for Canadian man who stole millions with fake psychic fraud

A former Montreal resident has been sentenced to 10 years in a United States federal prison for a multi-decade fraud that manipulated more than one million Americans into sending money to fake psychics. 

The U.S. Justice Department says Patrice Runner, 57, stole more than $175 million from 1.3 million people in the U.S. between 1994 and 2014.

A New York Federal Court convicted Runner, a Canadian and French citizen, on 14 charges, including mail fraud and wire fraud, in June 2023.

Officials say that Runner used a Montreal company to send Americans letters claiming to be from psychics who promised wealth and happiness in exchange for a fee.

U.S. authorities say no psychics were involved in the operation and that those who paid would receive additional letters offering to sell them more services and items with supposed magical powers. 

Chris Nielsen, the inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Philadelphia Division, says Runner preyed on elderly, vulnerable Americans and that the sentence is an "appropriate punishment." 

MORE National ARTICLES

Harjot Singh Samra wanted Canada wide

Harjot Singh Samra wanted Canada wide
Harjot Singh Samra, 27, was to report to his halfway house in Vancouver once he was released from prison yesterday, but failed to do so. Samra is 5’9″, weighs 252 pounds, and has a heavy build. He has brown/black hair with a balding hairline, and brown eyes. 

Harjot Singh Samra wanted Canada wide

Collision between fuel truck and train in northern Alberta

Collision between fuel truck and train in northern Alberta
Emergency crews are at the scene of a collision between a fuel truck and a train in northern Alberta. RCMP say its officers received a report of the collision on Highway 43, near the junction of Highway 32, in Whitecourt, which is located about 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.  

Collision between fuel truck and train in northern Alberta

Feds to provide wildfire update

Feds to provide wildfire update
Officials have already said Canada is experiencing its worst fire season on record, charring more than 130,000 square kilometres to date, which is more than six times the 10-year average. Natural Resources Canada said last week there were more than 650 fires burning across Canada, about two-thirds of them in B.C. 

Feds to provide wildfire update

Concrete actions must accompany diverse cabinet: Canada Research Chair

Concrete actions must accompany diverse cabinet: Canada Research Chair
An academic expert on inclusive politics says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's move last month to introduce more diversity into his cabinet won't have much effect unless it goes beyond surface-level representation. Trudeau added seven new faces to his governing team in July including the first Filipina Canadian woman MP and the first Sri Lankan Tamil to serve in cabinet.  

Concrete actions must accompany diverse cabinet: Canada Research Chair

Spike in rent across Canada

Spike in rent across Canada
The average asking rent in Canada went up last month to a record two-thousand and 78 dollars. A new report from Rentals-dot-c-a and research firm Urbanation says the total is 8.9 per cent higher than a year earlier.

Spike in rent across Canada

Calgary police say suspect may be in B.C. or Ont. after not returning to psych centre

Calgary police say suspect may be in B.C. or Ont. after not returning to psych centre
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for a 52-year-old man whom police say failed to return to a psychiatric hospital in Calgary last week. Calgary police say Patrick Leo McGann is wanted nationally for being unlawfully at large and an Alberta-wide warrant has been issued for disobeying a court order.

Calgary police say suspect may be in B.C. or Ont. after not returning to psych centre