Second Suspect in Hingham Psychic Scam Turns Herself In

The second suspect in the Hingham psychic scam turned herself into police Monday afternoon.

Teresa Nicholas, who was wanted in connection with stealing more than $7,000 from an elderly woman from Pembroke after a psychic reading scam arrived at the Hingham Police Station Monday afternoon after police have been on the look out for her for over two weeks.

Nicholas, age 43 of Attleboro was booked and later transported to where she was arraigned on charges of larceny over $250 and conspiracy. She was released after posting $500 bail, police said. She is due to return to court on June 22, police said.

After Hingham Detectives spoke with an attorney representing Nicholas, she agreed to turn herself.

Nicholas’s address was listed in Albany, NY but police were aware she was frequently in Hingham and other communities in Massachusetts.

Surveillance photos of Ms. Nicholas had been earlier released to the public and media showing her cashing  

Police believe Nicholas was an accomplice of the Hingham woman arrested in April at her Whiting Street home and business, "Crystal's Spiritual Reader" for allegedly scamming a 69-year-old Pembroke woman out of more than $7,000 during a psychic reading.

Police say Smith, who goes by the psychic name, “Sofie” told the woman there was a curse on her daughter and if she didn’t  pay her $16,000, Smith claimed  the daughter would commit suicide. According to a police report, while giving the psychic reading, Smith dropped a bag and red liquid spilled out and said it represented her daughter’s blood.  While pleading the Pembroke woman to pay her, Smith said, “Isn’t your daughter worth more than $16,000?,” the police report said.

According to the report, the victim was  under a great deal of stress and was concerned about her daughter.

Police say the Pembroke woman was scammed into giving Smith an antique opal ring worth $500 and two checks totaling $7,385. Police say Smith told the woman to sell personal items, borrow the money from relatives, or bring a credit card to come up with the additional $9,000. The victim told her family about the incident last week, and the family immediately contacted Hingham police.

When police arrived at Smith’s home , she denied knowing the Pembroke woman.  She also said she lived in Dorchester and the Whiting Street location was just her business. Police did notice two other people with Smith who were dressed in pajamas at the Whiting Street location.

When police asked to speak with Nicholas,  Smith said she would return in an hour but she could not be contacted because she does not have a cell phone.

Smith is facing charges of larceny over $250 (two counts), larceny over $250 by false pretenses, larceny from a person over 65, and conspiracy.

Since the charges, her business on Whiting Street has remained closed. The business is located next to the and across from