The financial controller of a Montreal tour operator lined her pockets for years. For this $100,000 fraud, France Villeneuve risks getting away with a year in home prison. A “sweet” sentence, according to the victims’ lawyer, whose surprise intervention derailed the hearing.
Charged in December 2020, the 64-year-old resident of Saint-Donat finally pleaded guilty Wednesday morning at the Montreal courthouse to one count of fraud of more than $5,000.
France Villeneuve was hired in 1996 to handle the finances of Géo Tours, a Montreal tour operator specializing in European tour groups and land trips across North America. Over the years, she has gained the trust of owners.
In a civil suit, she is described as “omnipresent” within the company. She was also the only one to fully master the accounting computer system.
Abusing this trust, the fraudster stole $97,000 from her employer between 2012 and 2017. As is often the case, she is M’s replacementme Villeneuve – who is on sick leave – who discovered “ anomalies ” in certain expenses of his predecessor.
The facts presented Wednesday by Crown prosecutor Me Sandra Tremblay, however, reveals little about the stratagem used by France Villeneuve. According to the defense, the accused believed she was entitled to these sums since she worked more in the absence of the owners.
The Crown was able to prove fraud of $97,000 beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the amount stolen could be much higher. An accounting audit produced as part of a civil suit concludes that France Villeneuve collected $357,695 in addition to her normal salaries between 2005 and 2017, in part thanks to a second “employee record” in her name.
“Mme Villeneuve signed the checks or authorized the bank transfers. The amounts were deposited into his personal account. We have not found the supporting documents supporting these expenses. Note that these amounts were not added to M’s employment income.me Villeneuve,” concludes the auditor in his report.
To settle the lawsuit out of court, France Villeneuve paid the company $107,000. This “confidential” agreement caused quite a stir on Wednesday. In an extremely unusual intervention, the lawyer for the owners of Géo Tours asked Judge Mairi Springate to exclude the civil discharge from her sentencing decision because of the confidentiality agreement.
“If the lawyers made a sweet suggestion, the victims have the right to express themselves,” argued Me Yacine Agnaou, the victims’ lawyer.
“I object to my colleague speaking to you,” said M.e Michel Massicotte, then summoning Me Agnaou to keep quiet.
Visibly annoyed, Judge Springate postponed the debate until next July in order to determine whether Me Agnaou has the right to intervene. You should know that the role of the victims’ lawyer is very regulated in criminal matters.
The judge therefore did not endorse the joint suggestion presented by the Crown prosecutor and the accused’s lawyer. This is a sentence of one year in home confinement, with probation. To justify this sentence, Me Massicotte highlighted his client’s lack of criminal record and health problems.