NJ widow alleges Paramus psychic persuaded her to hand over $78K for spiritual rituals
Marisol Meza says she was told her late husband had been cursed and his spirit needed cleansing. An attorney for Holly Stanley says the case has no merit.
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A Bergen County woman claims in a lawsuit that she handed over $78,500, along with personal belongings, to a Paramus psychic after being told her late husband's spirit needed to be cleansed.
Marisol Meza filed the lawsuit Sept. 2 in Bergen County Superior Court against Holly Stanley, Psychic Readings and Psychic Readings by Holly. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of fraud, undue influence and violations of New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act, among other claims.
Stanley's attorney, David J. Altieri, disputed the lawsuit in a statement to News 12.
"There is no merit to this case. It should not have been filed," Altieri said. "We're looking forward to responding."
According to the complaint, Meza's husband died in October 2022 after a 12-year battle with chronic kidney disease. Meza was still grieving when she met Stanley and the other defendants in February 2026 and paid $500 for an initial consultation. She alleges the defendants told her that her late husband had been cursed while he was alive and that his spirit required cleansing.
The lawsuit says the defendants then sought a series of larger payments. Meza alleges she paid $7,000 for a ritual involving her and another $6,500 to cleanse her husband's spirit. The defendants later told her that $65,000 she had inherited was "hexed" and also needed to be cleansed, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants told Meza that her husband's negative energy could transfer to her and that she could suffer a prolonged death similar to his if the cleansing was not completed.
According to the complaint, Meza was instructed to divide the $65,000 among 65 envelopes and place them in a large box along with the $6,500. She was also instructed to include several of her husband's belongings, including a watch, necklace, wedding photograph and an old key to the couple's former home.
Meza alleges she brought the box to the defendants four times over the course of four days. She was instructed to take it home after the first three visits and meditate over it, according to the lawsuit.
On the fourth day, the defendants allegedly kept the box, telling Meza they needed to meditate over its contents and attract her husband's soul for the ritual. The complaint says the box contained $71,500 in cash from Meza's inheritance and life savings, along with her husband's belongings.
According to the complaint, Meza became suspicious after the defendants sought another $52,000. She researched the defendants online and then demanded the return of her money and belongings. The lawsuit alleges Stanley refused.
The lawsuit seeks the return of Meza's property as well as compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and other relief. Meza has requested a jury trial.
