Psychic Convicted Of Fraud Charges

Newsday, New York/November 25, 1993

(Compiled from news dispatches)

A self-proclaimed psychic in Dallas accused in lawsuits of influencing followers who died mysteriously has been convicted of unrelated fraud charges.

A federal jury convicted Terri Hoffman of 10 counts of bankruptcy fraud and acquitted her of two counts in a case that rarely touched on the more unusual aspects of her story.

Hoffman, 55, left the courthouse without comment Tuesday. She remains free until her Jan. 14 sentencing. She faces up to 5 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine on each count.

Hoffman also faces lawsuits accusing her of using mind control to cause or benefit from the suicides or untimely deaths of 10 associates who had willed or given property to her. Two of the suicides were husbands of Hoffman who were convinced they had terminal diseases.