Cops: Duo duped immigrants in fortune-telling scam

A Spring Valley couple is under arrest Friday after investigators say they promised someone a chance at U.S. citizenship as part of a fortune-telling scam. According to Ramapo police, Jacqueline Costello,

News 12 Staff

May 28, 2014, 8:56 PM

Updated 3,946 days ago

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A Spring Valley couple is under arrest Friday after investigators say they promised someone a chance at U.S. citizenship as part of a fortune-telling scam.
According to Ramapo police, Jacqueline Costello, a fortune teller, held a card reading with the victim. Police say her husband, Bella Anthony Costello, then emerged to talk to the victim about his immigration status. According to investigators, the husband told the victim that he was a police officer and had friends who worked for the U.S. Immigration Service. The victim was then told the couple could help him with residency papers.
Investigators say Costello isn?t a police officer and the duo charged the victim $9,000 for services they didn?t provide. Police say this incident happened when the couple was living in Airmont, but they now live in Spring Valley. They say the couple lured their clients from the Food Mart International, which was near their home.
Bella Anthony Costello was previously charged by Spring Valley police for similar alleged actions. Spring Valley police say Costello promised a couple he would bring their three children to the U.S. from Ecuador in exchange for a fee. According to police, he accepted a $6,000 down payment for that promise. Investigators believe there may be more victims. They are encouraging anyone who may have been duped by the fortune-telling couple to come forward.
Jacqueline Costello has been charged with fortune telling, a misdemeanor. Bella Anthony Costello is charged with grand larceny and impersonating a police officer.