April Uwanawich
After two prior criminal convictions for offenses linked to her fortune telling businesses, you would think that Rhawnhurst resident April Uwanawich would’ve seen her latest legal troubles coming. Instead, Chester County authorities collared her again, leading to her guilty plea on June 1. A judge ordered Uwanawich, 37, of the 1600 block of Borbeck Ave., to serve 14 days to 12 months in a county lockup, followed by six months of house arrest and three years of probation for taking more than $10,000 from two women in exchange for assurances she could rid them of evil curses.
According to a police affidavit, Uwanawich primarily victimized one Downingtown-area woman and briefly her friend from about September 2009 until May 2012, when the victims reported their losses to police. Uwanawich, working under the name “Victoria Miller,” took cash payments from the victims and sold them items such as candles, oils, crystals and perfumes, but never delivered the purchased items.
Uwanawich pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception, both felonies, as well as the rarely prosecuted charge of fortune telling, a misdemeanor. In addition to her prison sentence, she was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
According to the Daily Local of West Chester, Uwanawich pleaded guilty in 2009 to summary criminal mischief in a case involving fortune telling and the theft of $23,000. Two years later, she pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception under similar circumstances after she took more than $35,000 from a victim. ••
