Post by IAMCAPER on Jan 4, 2007 14:26:28 GMT -4
Ten men from New Waterford were each slapped with fines ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 Tuesday after pleading guilty to ripping off the federal Employment Insurance program of nearly $260,000.
Between 2001 and 2005, the men purchased false employment records from 44-year-old Harold James Head, also of New Waterford, who is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 1 after pleading guilty to 71 counts of filing phony employment records.
In outlining the facts of the case, federal prosecutor David Iannetti explained to the court that each of the men paid varying amounts for their records of employment with some paying as little as $500 while others paid as much as $2,200.
Each of the false employment records reported earnings of less than $10,000. Some of the men collected as much as a $45,000 in illegal insurance premiums. In addition to the court fines, the men have also been ordered by the federal agency to repay the amounts they received along with penalties.
The federal program was designed to assist workers who may find themselves between jobs or for seasonal workers who can collect employment insurance during the off months of their industry. Every Canadian worker pays into the program and can collect a maximum of 52 weeks of benefits.
Meanwhile, another accused, Jason Edward Grace, 27, of Sharpes Lane, New Waterford, is scheduled to appear back in court Jan. 10 to enter a plea to a single count of participating in a scheme to file false employment records. Grace was present in provincial court Tuesday and watched the others being fined but requested time to speak with a lawyer.
Those sentenced Tuesday by provincial court Judge Brian Williston were:
Norman Brian Warburton, 47, of Ross Avenue, who pleaded guilty to four counts and fined a total of $4,000. He received $45,779 in insurance payments and paid between $1,000 to $1,400 for his false employment records.
Patrick Murray Hogan, 36, of Scotchtown, was fined $4,000 and received $40,362 in illegal insurance benefits.
Gerald Vincent Walker, 58, of MacKay Street, was fined $4,000 and received a total of $38,201 in illegal benefits. He paid between $500 to $900 for his false records.
Hugh Joseph Larade, 39, of Mary Avenue, was fined a total of $3,000 after receiving $29,715 in benefits. He purchased his records of employment for $1,200 explaining he couldn’t get a job as easy as he could a record of employment.
Raymond Andrew Cameron, 44, of Heelan Street, was fined a total of $2,000 after receiving $25,086 in illegal benefits.
Darren David Tucker, 37, of Murray Avenue, was fined $2,000 after receiving $22,351 in benefits.
Walter Jerome Podgurski, 50, of Kaneville Road, was fined $2,000 after he received $13,244 in illegal employment insurance benefits.
Julien Norman Martin, of Heelan Street, was fined $3,000 after he received $20,695 in benefits.
William Edward Doucette, 45, of George Street, was fined $1,000 after collecting $11,550 in benefits.
Elliot Joseph Hogan, 44, of MacKay Street, was fined $1,000. He collected $10,145 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
Between 2001 and 2005, the men purchased false employment records from 44-year-old Harold James Head, also of New Waterford, who is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 1 after pleading guilty to 71 counts of filing phony employment records.
In outlining the facts of the case, federal prosecutor David Iannetti explained to the court that each of the men paid varying amounts for their records of employment with some paying as little as $500 while others paid as much as $2,200.
Each of the false employment records reported earnings of less than $10,000. Some of the men collected as much as a $45,000 in illegal insurance premiums. In addition to the court fines, the men have also been ordered by the federal agency to repay the amounts they received along with penalties.
The federal program was designed to assist workers who may find themselves between jobs or for seasonal workers who can collect employment insurance during the off months of their industry. Every Canadian worker pays into the program and can collect a maximum of 52 weeks of benefits.
Meanwhile, another accused, Jason Edward Grace, 27, of Sharpes Lane, New Waterford, is scheduled to appear back in court Jan. 10 to enter a plea to a single count of participating in a scheme to file false employment records. Grace was present in provincial court Tuesday and watched the others being fined but requested time to speak with a lawyer.
Those sentenced Tuesday by provincial court Judge Brian Williston were:
Norman Brian Warburton, 47, of Ross Avenue, who pleaded guilty to four counts and fined a total of $4,000. He received $45,779 in insurance payments and paid between $1,000 to $1,400 for his false employment records.
Patrick Murray Hogan, 36, of Scotchtown, was fined $4,000 and received $40,362 in illegal insurance benefits.
Gerald Vincent Walker, 58, of MacKay Street, was fined $4,000 and received a total of $38,201 in illegal benefits. He paid between $500 to $900 for his false records.
Hugh Joseph Larade, 39, of Mary Avenue, was fined a total of $3,000 after receiving $29,715 in benefits. He purchased his records of employment for $1,200 explaining he couldn’t get a job as easy as he could a record of employment.
Raymond Andrew Cameron, 44, of Heelan Street, was fined a total of $2,000 after receiving $25,086 in illegal benefits.
Darren David Tucker, 37, of Murray Avenue, was fined $2,000 after receiving $22,351 in benefits.
Walter Jerome Podgurski, 50, of Kaneville Road, was fined $2,000 after he received $13,244 in illegal employment insurance benefits.
Julien Norman Martin, of Heelan Street, was fined $3,000 after he received $20,695 in benefits.
William Edward Doucette, 45, of George Street, was fined $1,000 after collecting $11,550 in benefits.
Elliot Joseph Hogan, 44, of MacKay Street, was fined $1,000. He collected $10,145 in benefits to which he was not entitled.