Man sues Auburn psychic, claims fraud

By LEVI PULKKINEN Seattlepi.com Published: Sep 11, 2012 at 9:31 PM PDT
SEATTLE -- An Auburn psychic is facing a lawsuit from a dissatisfied customer who claims she bilked him out of more than $30,000 while claiming to pray for his relatives.

Abraham Char contends a woman identified in court documents only as "Mama Tanya" tricked him into providing her with thousands of dollars. Prior to the loan, Char's attorney said in the civil complaint, the woman gained Char's trust and abused it during 2010 and 2011.

"'Mama Tanya wrongfully induced Abraham Char to provide her with monies in return for her representation that she would pray for his relatives claimed by her to be suffering," attorney Charles S. Hamilton III told the court.

Contacted Tuesday, the woman's attorney, Anthony DiPietro, flatly denied the allegations of fraud and disputed basic claims in the lawsuit.

"My client is a spiritual healer and uses her abilities to aid others in obtaining the positive spiritual energy necessary to help themselves with certain crises in their lives," DiPietro said Tuesday.

DiPietro also took issue with the moniker "Mama Tanya," which he contends was given his client by Char. The attorney declined to give his client's true name, saying he hadn't received her permission to do so.

Filing the civil suit Sept. 5 in King County Superior Court, Hamilton contended "Mama Tanya" has refused to repay more than $30,000 Char lent her to secure an investment.

The psychic promised Char he would be able to reclaim the money at any time, Hamilton contended. But he said she has since ignored repeated requests to return Char's money.

By email, DiPietro said Char sought his client's help once or twice a month for about eight months. He suggested Char was happy with his client's work.

DiPietro said he and his client "will unequivocally deny that there was any kind of scheme to induce Mr. Char to invest in any venture whatsoever" in an answer to the civil complaint to be filed at a later date.