Mississauga man faces witchcraft charge

A Mississauga man is facing the unusual charge of pretending to practice witchcraft after police allege he conned a woman by convincing her she was cursed.

The man advertised his services as a healer on the radio and in print ads, police said. A 56-year-old woman, reportedly suffering from chronic headaches, contacted him and eventually forked over about $14,000 for help.

The man used “spells and rituals” to convince the woman both she and her family were cursed, police claim. He then allegedly asked for the money to lift that curse.

Gustavo Valencia Gomez, 40, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and was charged with the witchcraft count and fraud over $5,000, false pretenses over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime.

He’s scheduled to appear in court Dec. 28.

Police say Gomez publishes the Spanish newspaper el Negocia Redondo. He offers his “services” out of a building on Dufferin Street just north of Rogers Road in Toronto. Police say he also operates in London, Ont. and Montreal.

Authorities believe there may be more victims in Ontario and Quebec.

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