Two offenders were sentenced following convictions for fraud over $5,000 under s. 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code arising from a scheme that defrauded victims of $100,000 through a purported land development investment.
The court considered aggravating factors including the significant planning of the fraud, the vulnerability of the victims, and the serious financial and emotional harm caused.
While the Crown sought penitentiary terms of three to four years, the court concluded that the case fell below the range of large‑scale fraud and that conditional sentences could adequately satisfy denunciation and deterrence.
Both offenders were sentenced to conditional sentences of two years less a day with strict house arrest conditions, followed by probation.
The court also imposed fines in lieu of forfeiture and a joint and several restitution order of $100,000 in favour of the victims.
