A self-proclaimed psychic who was banned by the OSC in 1998 for defrauding more than 800 people out of about $3.8 million has been sent to jail for three years.

Alexis Fortuna-St. John, 47, pled guilty to seven criminal charges, including four counts of theft and fraud over $5,000. Her lawyer agreed to the Crown’s request for a jail sentence of between two and four years.

Over three years ago, the OSC brought a hearing against Fortuna-St. John and her company, Phoenix Head Enterprises of Canada, alleging that they were not registered with the commission, but had accepted more than $3 million from 800 individuals, largely in southwestern Ontario. Enforcement staff alleged that the individuals who deposited funds with the respondents entered into contracts and expected to see the funds invested in securities and small businesses, and the investors would be repaid their principal along with the return generated by the investment.

The OSC found that St. John knowingly accepted funds contrary to the Securities Act, and “showed a flagrant disregard” for a temporary cease trading order that had been imposed against her. It also found that “St. John tried to get investors to destroy documents which were germane to the commission’s investigation.” It imposed a permanent trading ban against her.