Man who defrauded credit union jailed

Parker Davey Gosnell sentenced for string of offences

A P.E.I. man who defrauded a credit union by depositing empty envelopes and withdrawing cash was sentenced recently to 180 days on several charges.

Parker Davey Gosnell, 20, appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown for sentencing on seven charges that included fraud, two counts of attempting to use stolen cheques and two counts of being unlawfully in a dwelling.

Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald told the court that in March Gosnell deposited 11 empty envelopes into a Consolidated Credit Union account he had only recently opened.

The total amount Gosnell claimed to have deposited was more than $23,000 and he withdrew $1,060.

Gosnell also made purchases totalling more than $1,000.

In a separate incident, Gosnell tried to cash a stolen cheque at a TD Bank, but when staff became suspicious, he fled leaving his ID behind.

Gosnell also went to a Money Mart where he tried to cash a stolen cheque belonging to a different victim.

MacDonald said Gosnell told police the cheques were given to him and he was threatened with harm if he didn’t cash them.

Gosnell was also charged after several incidents at his parents’ home, including being there when he wasn’t supposed to be.

Before sentencing Gosnell, Orr said she reviewed reports that were prepared for the court and they show he needs to get his addiction issues under control.

When Gosnell is in custody it’s easy to say he has good intentions, but it’s another thing for him to follow through on them, Orr said.

Gosnell has been in custody since his arrest and Orr gave him credit of 160 days for time served, leaving him a further 20 days on his sentence.

That sentence will be followed by a period of probation.