Sherry Tina Uwanawich, 29, has been sentenced to more than three years in jail in a novel case in Florida. Uwanawich was convicted of swindling a woman out of $1.6 million to lift a curse. A Gypsy healer, Uwanawich claimed to have a direct line to God. The case rekindles questions over the line between legitimate faith (and gifts to religious organizations) and faith-based fraud. Most of the major religions claim miracles as well as communications with God. Most receive large donations, including from people hoping to be healed or helped. The question is when such claims amount to fraud or just faith. We have previously discussed this issue over the liability of fortune telling and super-natural services (here and here).
The government calls it wire fraud, plain and simple.
Uwanawich, 29, operated under the name Jacklyn Miller, and insisted to the court that she did indeed have special divine powers to ward off curses. Such beliefs are common to the Roma culture and Uwanawich has worked as a fortune teller since age 17.
Uwanawich received the money from a medical student from Brazil who was depressed after losing her mother. Uwanawich said that a curse was at the heart of the depression. The woman would ultimately pay Uwanawich with student loans and borrowed money to lift the curse as well as her inheritance.
Most of us view the facts as horrific and fraudulent. However, most of us do not believe in curses or witches or the like. Many major religions bless people to ward of evil and even Sarah Palin witch-proofed herself before running for Vice President. Is the difference one of the extent of the contributions or the basis for the belief? What is not clear in the case is how the court articulated the distinction.
What do you think?
Kind of reminds me of my travels in Europe. It was common to see Gypsies all over begging with their babies.
Almost got pickpocketed by one in Florence. And had 2 gypsy girls try to accost me in Berlin near the Unter Den Linden, spoke perfect English too. I kept walking because I knew that transaction would not be to my benefit.
Such lowlife parasites! Back in the communist era governments would try to assimilate them without success.
But we know that expecting assimilation is an evil, racist trick, only proposed by white supremacists.
Gypsies are one of the many outside groups spreading enrichment and joy to Europeans.
antonio
Well, say what you want, but I don’t want no gypsies laying a hex on me! Because that sort of stuff has a way of working itself inside your brain, and whether it is just a self-fulfilling whatever, or a genuine manipulation of the Universe, I don’t want no part of it.
Scoff if you like, but I live in Louisiana, and there is dark stuff going on down there in them swamps!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Squeeky – I understand that you can get stuff to protect yourself from hexes. I am sure there are some backswamp stores where you can purchase what you need.
‘Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island’ is great exploration on deep swamp spooks and curses. 🙂
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-49596031
30 months for putting stickers on a lamppost in UK. Wow!