DORAL, Fla. – A Doral woman was arrested Monday after she swindled a man out of $3,000 while claiming that she would double his money, authorities said.
According to Doral police, the victim reported the theft to authorities last Thursday.
He claimed that on March 11, he found a tarot card reading flyer attached to his car, and contacted the phone number on the flyer.
Police said the woman who answered his call offered a tarot card reading for $20, which the victim agreed to.
According to an arrest report, the victim went to an apartment complex in the 8800 block of Northwest 36th Street and was greeted by an older woman, who identified herself as Maria Rodriguez.
But police said the woman was actually 67-year-old Carmen Valdez De Miguel.
According to the report, Valdez De Miguel performed the reading and then told the victim that he needed a “deeper spiritual cleansing procedure,” which would cost between $600 and $700.
Police said the victim agreed to provide a partial payment before the cleansing session and transferred $200 to Valdez De Miguel via Zelle.
According to the report, the victim returned to Valdez De Miguel’s apartment on March 14, at which time she performed the cleansing session and then inquired about the victim’s bank account balance.
Police said the victim told Valdez De Miguel that he had $8,000 in his bank account and she told him to bring the full amount next time and she would perform a ritual that would double his money.
According to the report, the victim brought $3,000 in cash to the suspect’s home on March 19.
Police said the money was placed in a bag with eggs, and the victim expressed concern to Valdez De Miguel about the eggs damaging the money.
But police said Valdez De Miguel continued with the ritual, at which time the bag containing the eggs and cash was broken.
“Upon opening the bag, the victim observed only broken eggs and worms moving inside, with no signs of the money,” the arrest report stated.
Police said the victim was shocked and asked Valdez De Miguel to return his money, but she appeared disoriented from the ritual and claimed she was unable to do so due to her state of mind, reassuring him that she would give him the money back the following day.
According to the report, the victim made multiple attempts to get his money back, but Valdez De Miguel told him the cash was part of a ritual and couldn’t be released until “the candles extinguished on their own.”
Police said the victim was taken into custody Monday at her apartment and was given the chance to return the money to the victim, but she claimed to not know him.
Valdez De Miguel then resisted arrest by pulling away from an officer who was trying to handcuff her and then dropping herself to the floor, authorities said.
According to the report, after being placed in an interview room at the police station, Valdez De Miguel became irate and then appeared to be in distress, claiming that she had a fever and needed to be taken to the hospital.
Police said she was transported to Baptist Hospital before being taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Valdez De Miguel faces charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft and resisting an officer without violence.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Venezuelan national remained jailed on an immigration hold.