A man extradited from Germany has made his first appearance in a Miami federal court on charges that he helped operate a mass-mailing scheme that allegedly took more than US$4 million from consumers through false promises of financial windfalls.
Mael Chemla, 61, is a citizen of the United States, France and Israel who previously lived in Florida. The indictment, unsealed after his transfer, charges him with conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud. Each offence carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, although any sentence would depend on a conviction and the federal sentencing process.
Prosecutors allege that letters were sent to thousands of people across the United States and made to look like personalised messages from psychics. Recipients were told a financial windfall was imminent but that they first needed to send a payment. Many of the alleged victims were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
The indictment says Chemla opened US bank accounts in the names of the supposed psychics, deposited victims’ cheques and transferred the proceeds to European accounts controlled by a co-conspirator. The charged conduct is said to have run from September 2016 to November 2020.
The Postal Inspection Service is investigating. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs supported proceedings in the German extradition court and coordinated Chemla’s return after extradition was granted. The indictment contains allegations only; Chemla is presumed innocent unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Justice Department’s extradition announcement is available here.
