Gina Rita Russell, a 35-year-old former resident of New York and Los Angeles, has been sentenced to over 10 years in prison for her role in an extortion scheme that wrangled more than $4 million from an unsuspecting man. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, Russell, along with several family members, convinced the victim first of her bogus psychic abilities and then of her dire need for cash, which he embezzled from his employer to provide.
The individuals involved in this case, including Russell's former common-law husband, Robert Evans, his brothers, and their parents were all charged with various offenses connected to the ordeal back in April 2018. Throughout the con, the group preyed on the vulnerabilities of their victims; one of Russell’s coconspirators even threatened the Maryland man's children during the course of their shakedown, a particularly heinous element of the deceit.
While the plot was vast and twisted, at its heart was the exploitation of faith and trust. Russell's con started with a simple psychic reading in Manhattan in 2009 for a New York woman, as she spun tales of doom that could be fixed only with significant monetary contributions. As the woman's family funds ran dry, the scheme escalated to sex work and ultimately to the involvement of the Maryland man whose infatuation led to stolen millions.
The case, investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, culminated with not only Russell’s sentencing but also with prison terms for her accomplices. Tony John Evans, 35, and Robert Evans, 37, each received five years for interference with interstate commerce by extortion. Their younger brother, Corry Blue Evans, 31, was handed a 41-month sentence for bank fraud. Russell's older accomplices, Archie Kaslov and Candy Evans, faced their own penalties for their roles in the crime; Archie for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Candy for witness tampering.
Justice, in the form of a jail sentence and restitution, was finally delivered by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who sentenced Russell to 125 months in prison and ordered her to pay back more than $4 million in restitution. Judge Chutkan also imposed a three-year supervised release period for Russell once she completes her prison term. The resolution of this case serves as a stark reminder of the pernicious and real-world impacts of exploiting the trust and beliefs of others for personal gain.
