Aleth Duell, a 72-year-old first offender, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count of money laundering, related to romance fraud schemes.
The Crown sought a custodial sentence of two years less a day, while the defence argued for a conditional sentence.
The court imposed a global custodial sentence of two years less a day, followed by two years probation, emphasizing denunciation and general deterrence due to the large-scale nature and devastating impact of the frauds.
The court declined to issue a restitution order due to the offender's limited means and lack of quantifiable profit, but imposed a lifetime prohibition order under s. 380.2 of the Criminal Code against managing others' property, money, or valuable security, and waived the victim surcharge.
