Miami: A 61-year-old man has been brought to the United States from Germany to face federal charges over an alleged mail fraud operation that reportedly cheated thousands of Americans out of more than $4 million.
Mael Chemla, a US, French and Israeli national, appeared before a federal court in Miami on Monday after his extradition. The US Department of Justice announced the development on November 3, 2026. Chemla, formerly based in Aventura, Florida, faces charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud.
According to an indictment unsealed on November 2, Chemla allegedly worked with associates to distribute letters across the country posing as personalised communications from psychics. The messages reportedly promised recipients substantial financial gains but demanded payments in advance to access the supposed money.
Investigators allege that Chemla established bank accounts in the United States under the names of the purported psychics. Victims’ cheque payments were deposited into these accounts before the funds were transferred to European bank accounts allegedly controlled by another member of the network.
The operation is believed to have run between September 2016 and November 2020. Thousands of people were allegedly targeted, including elderly individuals and others considered particularly vulnerable to financial exploitation.
If found guilty, Chemla could face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
The US Postal Inspection Service is leading the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs facilitated the extradition process in Germany and coordinated with the US Marshals Service to bring the accused to American jurisdiction.
