Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 29, 1994 TAG: 9411290111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Miller, who still faces charges in Roanoke of obtaining money under false pretenses, was sentenced to five years of probation in July 1992 after being convicted in federal court in New York of structuring money transactions to avoid paying taxes.
At a three-hour hearing Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said Miller was fortunate that the judge in New York sentenced her to probation when she faced up to two years in prison.
"The fact is, Ms. Miller ought to thank her lucky stars for that sentence," he said. "In spite of her long history of being a thief and a con artist, she was given a huge break."
U.S. District Judge Jackson Kiser ruled Monday that Miller, 44, has had numerous probation violations since moving to Roanoke shortly after the conviction.
She was convicted of shoplifting earlier this year and also refused to furnish her probation officer with financial records that were requested. Miller - a self-professed gypsy who says she can't read or write - also failed to attend court-ordered adult education classes.
Kiser ordered Miller to report to prison by Dec. 28.
At Monday's hearing, federal probation officer Ann Martin testified that her office was "suspicious" of Miller's financial dealings even before she was arrested by Roanoke police Nov. 3.
Martin said Miller was spending a lot of money, but not reporting big purchases to her probation officer as required by federal law. Among the expenditures were extensive house renovations, new furniture and at least six vehicles.
In closing arguments, Miller's attorney, Ray Carpenter, said the government was biased against his client.
"The fact that this family is a gypsy family has influenced how this case was handled," he said.
Miller had an extensive history of psychic-related crimes in New York before moving to Roanoke. From 1972 to 1986, she was convicted in New York state court six times on charges that included disorderly conduct, petty larceny and attempted grand larceny, according to court testimony at a hearing earlier this month.
Martin testified Monday that Roanoke police told her they arrested Miller after getting more than 20 complaints from people who felt they had been swindled.
That arrest allowed federal probation officers to obtain Miller's financial records and see that she had not been up front about her financial status; otherwise, it did not affect her probation status.
Carpenter said he has little doubt that the state charges will be dismissed.
Maybe palm reading is not nice, he said, "but when you walk in the door, you know what you get."
by CNB