Woman jailed two years for defrauding friends
Former motivational speaker got friends to invest in scheme
WATERLOO REGION — Frances Boychuk and Brent Brubacher sat in court to watch their former friend led off to jail for defrauding them of almost $60,000.
Now they hope they can begin to heal. It’s been a long ordeal.
Their former friend, Michelle Dunk, was sentenced Wednesday to two years in provincial jail and ordered to pay back four victims after lying to them and defrauding them of almost $160,000.
Dunk, 41, is a former motivational speaker who persuaded friends to invest in a financial scheme between 2012 and 2016.
“Ms. Dunk’s actions were ultimately motivated by greed,” Judge Melanie Sopinka said in sentencing her.
“Her intention was to reap significant rewards” and along the way she caused “a path of destruction.”
“I think the sentence was very just and fair,” said Boychuk, 41, who lost $38,000. “I feel like the closure is the best medicine right now.”
“There’s nothing good about being in this situation, even for Michelle Dunk,” said Brubacher, 46, who lost $21,920. “I don’t want her life to be horrible for the rest of her life. Hopefully after this she can move on and things get better, just like I’m going to move on.”
Dunk was found guilty of four charges under the Securities Act: fraud, trading securities while prohibited, illegally distributing securities and trading without registration.
The offences relate to Dunk selling promissory notes for a joint venture involving a U.S. firm.
Dunk was previously sentenced to 75 days on weekends in 2016 for unregistered trading and breaching an order by the Ontario Securities Commission.
For her new convictions, defence lawyer Paul Slansky asked for 60 days in jail on weekends. Prosecutor Lia Di Giulio sought three years in a federal prison.
Sopinka dismissed the defence request as “extremely unfit” while acknowledging that Dunk has expressed remorse.
Dunk defended herself by arguing that she too was duped. Addressing the court last month after her convictions, she vowed never to resume work in the financial industry.
That’s no longer her call. The judge banned her from financial trading for life.
Dunk said she was wrong to assure her victims that their investments were 100 per cent safe. She said Boychuk’s hurt and anger “is understood and justified.”
She said the consequences of her actions will be with her forever.
The court was told that Dunk attempted suicide in 2016.
Since being charged, Dunk has married and is a stepmother to three children. She struggles to find work and is raising rabbits and cleaning homes.
She had supporters in court Wednesday. One wept as Dunk was led away to jail.
Boychuk and Brubacher did not weep. They praised the prosecutor and the judge.
They don’t know if Dunk will ever pay them back their losses. They do know it would be a true sign of remorse.