Coldbrook woman facing tax evasion, criminal charges

Byers serving federal sentence for defrauding Greenwood Military Family Resource Centre

The Coldbrook woman who defrauding the Greenwood Military Family Resource Centre of over $409,000 is now facing tax evasion charges.

Karen Lorraine Byers, 57, was charged July 13 with 11 charges under the Income Tax Act and six under the Criminal Code.

She is accused of tax evasion and making false statements on her personal income tax return as well as her spouse’s by overstating charitable donations on their respective returns equaling $202,500. Under the Criminal Code, Byers is charged with forgery and using forged documents for the creation and submission of false documents, specifically charitable donation receipts.

In 2011, the Canadian Forces National Investigative Service began its investigation into Byers for the expropriation of funds from the Greenwood Military Family Resource Centre, her former employer.

In April 2015, Byers sentenced to three and a half years of federal custody for defrauding the mil- itary family resource centre of approximately $409,964. Along with her husband, Gary Wayne Byers, she also pleaded guilty to living off the proceeds of crime.

Gary Byers was given a 24month suspended sentence with probation for his part in the offence.

Byers was also ordered to repay the funds to the centre, where she was employed for 13 years prior to her March 2011 resignation.

As part of its investigation, the Canadian Forces shared the information with the CRA. The CRA investigation concluded that between the taxation years 2008 and 2013 the sizable tax refunds claimed by the Byers’ were as a result of large, allegedly falsified, charitable donations, which resulted in the charges that were laid July 13.

The consequences of tax evasion could result in being fined up to 200 per cent of the tax evaded and up to a five-year jail sentence.

Byers is due in Kentville provincial court Aug. 15.