Related videos:
A woman was arrested in Doral after being accused of scamming a man out of $3,000 during a supposed “spiritual cleansing” that included money, eggs, and esoteric rituals. The accused, identified as Carmen Valdez De Miguel, 67 years old and a Venezuelan citizen, faces charges of organized fraud, grand theft in the third degree, and resisting an officer without violence, in addition to prior warrants for other similar cases.
According to the police report, the events began on March 11 when the victim discovered a promotional flyer for tarot card readings attached to his car and decided to contact the number. A woman who identified herself as "María Rodríguez" offered him a session for $20, scheduled him at an apartment on block 8800 of Northwest 36th Street, and attended to him there.
Durante la sesión, Valdez De Miguel le aseguró que necesitaba una limpieza espiritual más profunda, con un costo entre $600 y $700. La víctima accedió a pagar $200 por adelantado a través de Zelle. Días después, el 19 de marzo, regresó con $3,000 en efectivo, tras recibir la promesa de que el dinero sería “ritualizado” para duplicarse y devuelto ese mismo día.
During the ritual, the money was placed in a bag alongside eggs. The bag broke, and according to the report, when it was opened, the victim only found broken eggs and worms inside, with no traces of the cash. Valdez De Miguel then told him that he could not return the money due to his "mental state" and that he should wait for "the candles to extinguish on their own" in order to recover it.
The man attempted to communicate with the woman several times without success and ultimately reported the case to the Doral police, who arrested her on Monday, March 31, in her apartment. During the arrest, Valdez De Miguel used a false name, resisted being handcuffed, and was taken to Baptist Hospital after claiming to have a fever, before being transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGKCC).
During the hearing before Judge Mindy Glazer, a bond of $5,500 was set for the main case, although she also faces two warrants for petty theft with bonds of $3,500 and $1,000, respectively. Additionally, she has a no-bond warrant and a detention for immigration reasons, which keeps her held without the possibility of being released on bail until further notice.
The chief of police in Doral, Edwin López, stated to AméricaTeVé that Valdez De Miguel is a "professional" in deception with multiple outstanding arrest warrants and did not rule out the possibility of new complaints from other victims. “We are investigating other individuals and expect to make additional arrests,” he pointed out.
After the court hearing on Tuesday, it was also ordered that the accused remain away from the victim. The police urge anyone who has had contact with the suspect and believes they have been deceived to file a formal complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions About "Spiritual Cleansing" Fraud in Doral
Who is Carmen Valdez De Miguel and what charges is she facing?
Carmen Valdez De Miguel is a 67-year-old Venezuelan citizen arrested in Doral for defrauding a man during an alleged "spiritual cleansing." She faces charges of organized fraud, third-degree grand theft, and resisting an officer without violence. Additionally, she has prior court orders for similar cases.
How did the "tarot reader" scam operate in Doral?
The scam scheme began with a promotional flyer about tarot card readings. The victim was summoned by "María Rodríguez" for an initial affordable session and then was persuaded to undergo an expensive "spiritual cleansing." The victim's money was supposedly "ritualized" to double, but in the end, it vanished, leaving them without cash or any tangible results.
What measures is the Doral police taking in response to this type of scam?
The Doral police are investigating other potential victims and expect to make more arrests. The police chief, Edwin López, considers Valdez De Miguel a "professional" at deception and has urged anyone who has had contact with her to file a formal complaint if they believe they have been deceived.
Why is Carmen Valdez De Miguel still detained without the possibility of bail?
Despite being set a bail of $5,500 for the main case, Valdez De Miguel has a hold for immigration reasons and a no-bail court order, which keeps her detained without the possibility of release on bail until further notice. Additionally, she faces other court orders for petty theft with additional bails.
Filed under: