Conman Patrice Runner, 57, is jailed for 10 years after swindling more than ... trends now
A conman who swindled more than $175million from 1.3million elderly and 'vulnerable' Americans in a two-decade mail scam has been jailed for 10 years.
Patrice Runner, 57, operated an international mail fraud scam in which he pretended to be a psychic and promised wealth and happiness to those who sent him cash in the post.
Runner, who holds both Canadian and French citizenship, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud in June 2023.
He was found not guilty on four counts of mail fraud.
Runner, who authorities had been pursuing since 2014, was handed a decade-long sentence by a New York judge on Monday, the US Department of Justice confirmed.
Four other co-conspirators had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with his mass-mailing fraud scheme.
Patrice Runner, 57, (pictured) has been jailed for 10 years after swindling more than $175million from 1.3million elderly and 'vulnerable' Americans in a two-decade mail scam
Using the name and image of Maria Duval, along with that of another French psychic named Patrick Guerin, Runner and his co-conspirators would send letters promising recipients that her psychic guidance and talismans could help turn their lives around
The fraud scheme, which began in 1994 and ran until November 2014, preyed on the elderly and those in desperate positions who were trying to get back on their feet financially.
Using the name and image of Maria Duval, along with that of another French psychic named Patrick Guerin, Runner and his co-conspirators would send letters promising recipients that her psychic guidance and talismans could help turn their lives around.
The fraudsters obtained the names of the vulnerable and elderly by renting and trading mailing lists with other mail fraud schemes.
When a victim
