United States v. Patrice Runner

United States v. Patrice Runner

2:18-CR-578-JS (E.D.NY)

Court Assigned: This case is assigned to the Honorable Joanna Seybert, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

An indictment charges Patrice Runner, 55, a French and Canadian citizen, with mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  According to the charges, from 1994 through November 2014, Runner operated a mail fraud scheme that involved sending millions of U.S. consumers letters purporting to be from two well-known French psychics, promising that the recipient had the opportunity to achieve great wealth and happiness with the psychic’s assistance in exchange for payment of a fee.  The letters also frequently stated that a psychic had seen a personalized vision regarding the recipient of the letter, when in fact, the indictment alleges, the scheme sent nearly identical letters to tens of thousands of victims each week.  The letters purported to be from French psychics Maria Duval or Patrick Guerin, and often included the names of the following shell companies: National Parapsychology Center, Zodiac Zone, Destiny Research Group, and Destiny Research Center.

Runner was arrested in Ibiza, Spain, by officers of the Spanish National Police in December 2018, based on the U.S. indictment.  Following extradition proceedings, the Spanish government released Runner to the custody of U.S. Postal Inspectors on Dec. 21, 2020.

Scheduled Court Hearing

                           Status Conference – 9/21/2022 at 12:00pm

                            Via teleconference at the following number:
                            877-336-1839, access code 7231185

                            Jury Selection – 1/9/2023 at 9:30 am
                            Courtroom 287, Federal Courthouse, 100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, NY 11722

Court Documents

10/25/2018 –  

Defendant’s sentencing hearing has been scheduled. 

• Patrice Runner is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 1:30 p.m., by District Judge Joanna Seybert at the United States Courthouse, 100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, New York, 11722. 

On June 16, 2023, a jury in Central Islip, New York convicted Patrice Runner of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, eight counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

If you are a victim of the offense being charged in this case, you may contact the Victim-Witness Coordinator in the Eastern District of New York to help you exercise your rights. 

For information or assistance, please contact:

Lisa Foster

Victim Witness Coordinator

U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of New York

(718) 254-6256

Under the “Justice for All Act of 2004,” codified at 18 U.S.C. §3771, a crime victim has specified rights. More information regarding such rights can be found at 18 U.S.C. §3771.

For further information, please see the Justice for All Act (2004) Case Notifications.