Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Sarai Desiree Castillo de Charon was arrested for allegedly stealing jewelry and money.
- She claimed to bless items for cash, targeting Hispanic individuals, police say.
- Some victims paid thousands, but Castillo de Charon allegedly moved before returning their belongings.
PROVO — A Syracuse woman who police say was paid to "bless" other people's property, such as jewelry, has been arrested in Provo and accused of not returning the personal belongings and pocketing the money.
Sarai Desiree Castillo de Charon, 40, was booked into the Utah County Jail on Thursday for investigation of two counts of theft and two counts of theft by deception.
"The suspect used a ruse of offering to bless items for religious or healing value in exchange for cash. Several victims provided both cash and property — perfumes, jewelry, $100 bills — and paid a cash fee to the suspect," according to a police booking affidavit.
One victim paid $5,000 to have $500 worth of jewelry blessed, while a second victim paid more than $12,000 to have approximately $300 worth of jewelry blessed, the affidavit states. But when the victims arrived at a home in Provo to pick up their belongings, they learned Castillo de Churon no longer lived there.
"Multiple other victims paid amounts in the thousands of dollars for a healing ceremony to be performed by the suspect, although no property was exchanged to be returned in those cases. The suspect arranged for multiple victims to meet at her home in Provo on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, to recover their property but had moved out at least one day prior to that date," according to the affidavit.
Some victims simply gave Castillo de Charon cash to bless, said Provo police spokeswoman Janna-Lee Holland.
Provo police believe Castillo de Charon is a self-proclaimed ecclesiastical leader or healer and is not affiliated with any church or religious group. She is believed to have targeted Hispanic people and posted flyers in places such as Mexican markets offering blessings for a price, said Holland. She says police know of approximately a half-dozen victims but acknowledge there could be more who haven't come forward.
Castillo de Charon was tracked down and arrested when one of the victims recently saw a flyer in Syracuse offering the same services. Police were contacted and detained Castillo de Charon until she could be questioned by Provo detectives who traveled to Syracuse and arrested her.
Provo police believe Castillo de Charon took a total of about $32,000 in personal property and cash. Police encourage others who may have been victimized by Castillo de Charon to contact the police department in the city where they exchanged property with her.
