Boulder Psychic Accused Of Scamming $200,000 From Lacoste Family
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- A Boulder psychic is accused of scamming a member of the Lacoste clothing family out of $200,000.
According to the arrest affidavit for Becky Ann Lee of Boulder, police claim that Lee convinced Victoria Lacoste, a sophomore student at CU Boulder, to buy gold coins claiming they would help her. Then later, Lee pawned the coins for herself.
Lacoste is a member of the family that started the Lacoste clothing brand.
Police arrested Lee, 32, last month. She has been charged with one count of felony theft.
"We haven't had a case quite like this," Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett said Wednesday.
Court documents indicate Lacoste told police she walked into Lee's business for a tarot card reading sometime last year and that she used Lee's services "as a spiritual advisor." She told police they had become friends, and that Lee instructed her to buy gold "to further their work" because the only way to rid herself of "evil spirits that were following her" was through gold.
Lacoste purchased the coins from Tebo Coin, on 28th Street in Boulder, where a store manager says Lacoste and Lee visited the store together. Lacoste bought more than 100 Gold Eagle one-ounce coins, worth around $1,300 each, during the year and a half period Lacoste was buying them.
Detectives say without Lacoste knowing, Lee pawned more than 100 of the coins throughout the Denver metro area, collecting nearly $150,000 for herself. Police also say Lacoste gave Lee money through gift cards and purchases at Nordstrom, restaurants, hotels and other stores.
"She misled the victim into turning over these large amounts of money saying they would be used in one way and in fact she used them for her own personal benefit," Garnett said.
Police linked Lee to the Psychic Chakra Spa at 1909 Broadway Street, #100, in Boulder, where a sign on the door reads "Appointments Only." Attempts to reach Lee at that location and her home Wednesday were unsuccessful. Court filings indicate Lee is represented by Denver attorney Harvey Steinberg.
"Often with this kind of case, there will be other people who have been similarly victimized," Garnett said, encouraging anyone with information about Lee to contact his office or Boulder Police.
According to her arrest affidavit, Lee had an outstanding warrant for forgery out of Arizona at the time, and a criminal history in Colorado that includes arrests for assault, child abuse, criminal impersonation, and DUI.
Lee was released on $50,000 bond. Garnett says the felony theft charge she faces carries a typical prison sentence of between eight and 12 years, or up to 24 years, if aggravating factors are found. Court records indicate Lee is due back before a Boulder County judge early next year.
Lauren DiSpirito is CBS4's Northern Newsroom reporter. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.
