JOLIETTE | Victims still haunted by the shame of having been duped by ‘extremely skilled’ fraudsters had their lives completely derailed after losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, while the only defendant who failed to flee the country simply “sincerely apologize” for what they experienced.
“You made the pass with me,” angrily denounced one of Wilfried Christian Mbounou’s victims during sentencing on Wednesday at the Joliette courthouse, she who was extorted for $ 292,400 in a scheme type of fraudblack money“.
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The 28-year-old father of four was convicted last February of fraud, attempted fraud, conspiracy to defraud, possession of counterfeit money, possession of a false ID and breaking a arrangement.
Photo filed as evidence in court
Wilfried Christian Mbounou, 28, was convicted of fraud in February 2023.
The latter was an important player in a vast network of African fraudsters who could have allowed him to steal up to $2.6 million from various entrepreneurs throughout Quebec, according to the evidence presented at trial.
The fraudsters were able to gain the victims’ confidence very quickly, by presenting themselves as potential buyers of goods.
Very convincing, in Porsche
They claimed to possess immense wealth and by driving around in Porsches, and sometimes posing as a diplomat, a prince or a “Majesty”. Gifts are also offered to the plaintiffs as coming from Africa, statues, clothes.
Filed in evidence in Court
The police found these tunics in a wardrobe in an apartment linked to the fraudsters, in the Tour des Canadiens, which were used to trick the victims into their roles as “diplomats” or people linked to royalty.
To be able to pay the sellers, they explained to them that they had a large sum of money, but that it had been transformed using a chemical process, leaving only whitish leaves.
In order to finalize the transaction, they then made a demonstration of “cleaning up” in front of the victims, while the white tickets became real money, using a $100 bill.
Then, the victims were convinced to provide real $100 bills themselves to carry out a large-scale transformation that would allow them to finally make the payment for the acquisition of the property.
“Everything is just a vast lie aimed at only one thing, to lead the victim to hand over to the individuals a large sum of money which will be stolen from him, and then to claim even more additional sums from him”, described the judge. Bruno Leclerc, in his decision last February.
Victims in shame
During sentencing representations, two victims testified to the many harms suffered in this case, admitting to being still ashamed of the events.
“I can’t believe I got screwed. […] I never believed that I was being robbed”, maintained a septuagenarian who was victim of the fraudsters, whom he described as “extreme skill”.
The latter had even started a romantic relationship with one of the fraudsters, which led him to lose around $600,000, he said. Today, he is forced to work full time, unable to enjoy a retirement.
Photo courtesy of Toronto Police
It was a briefcase filled with white papers like this that was presented to the victims
Throughout the trial, the accused denied being involved in any way in these events.
But on Wednesday, he admitted for the first time to having taken part in the scheme.
“I am truly sincerely sorry to have done such a thing to you. I hope you will find peace in your life”, dropped Wilfried Christian Mbounou.
Another victim confessed to having tried to end his life after discovering the pot of roses.
“I still have misery today. It’s 20 years of my life that I lost,” said the entrepreneur in his forties, who had to return to live with his parents after losing $292,400 and going bankrupt.
The accused speaks only of himself
After expressing very brief remorse, the accused deplored from time to time his situation in prison, denouncing the “lack of humanity” of the authorities towards him.
“It had a huge impact on my life. I missed important events,” said Wilfried Christian Mbounou, referring to his mother’s wedding, his grandfather’s funeral and the birth of his fourth child.
When confronted by the Crown prosecutor, Me Lucas Bastien, he also declined his involvement and claimed to have also been “frauded” by an accomplice.
“It’s not because I was involved in a fraud that I made money with it,” said Mbounou.
“The only thing he talked about was him, and the consequences he experienced” deplored Me Bastien, adding that his “late remorse was only a desperate attempt to obtain the clemency of the judge.
The prosecutor recalled the “very serious consequences for the victims, well beyond a financial loss”, claiming in passing 8 years and 6 months of imprisonment, in addition to the reimbursement of approximately $ 765,000 to them. .
The accused, who is representing himself, considered for his part that the “harms” suffered in prison deserved that his preventive detention allow him to be released almost immediately, asking the judge for five additional days of imprisonment.
Judge Bruno Leclerc will make his decision on June 1.