A fraudster who devised a preposterous fraudulent scheme to defraud around 30 victims was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday. Gyula Jr Barta even risks spending three more years in prison if he does not pay back half a million dollars to his victims over the next decade.
Posted at 4:34 p.m.
“It is absolutely unspeakable. He attacked longtime friends who had every reason to trust him. […] Had it not been for certain favorable factors, the sentence would have been much harsher,” concluded Judge Robert Marchi, following the Crown’s suggestion. The accused was asking for a sentence of two years less a day.
Gyula Jr Barta defrauded the majority of his victims into believing a “big draw” of $3.25 million. Thanks to his aura of wealthy investor and scholar, the 60-year-old fraudster convinced about twenty acquaintances to give him $250 to $2,500 to reserve “seats” at a conference attended by a mysterious octogenarian billionaire.
The fraudster promised to draw 70 prizes, including two grand prizes of one million dollars, in addition to giving everyone a “big envelope”. He thus made the victims believe that their initial investment would certainly “come back” to them.
“These beautiful promises were too good to be true,” summed up Judge Marchi.
Complete families have thus been ruined to obtain these counterfeit notes from the fraudster. Some had to postpone their retirement, while others got into debt.
Gyula Jr Barta also extorted $125,000 from a victim in 2009 by dangling huge returns. At the time, the 60-year-old led everyone to believe that he was a prolific investor leading a team of “traders”.
According to the judge, the fraud of Gyula Jr Barta involves a “high” degree of premeditation and planning. Judge Marchi also notes as a “very” aggravating factor the breach of trust towards the victims. Among the mitigating factors, the judge highlighted the accused’s admission of guilt, his apologies to the victims and his sincere remorse.
Under a compensatory fine, Gyula Jr Barta will have 10 years from his parole to repay nearly half a million dollars to his victims. He faces an additional three years in prison if he does not repay this sum. This sentence will be reduced in proportion to the amount reimbursed at the end of these 10 years.
Me Denis Trottier represented the public prosecutor, while Mr. Barta defended himself.