‘Optimism’ for fraudster
Culprit claims he was assaulted when he attempted to leave ring
A Surrey man who has taken “serious steps” to rehabilitate himself after being involved in a welfare fraud ring has been given a conditional sentence of two years less a day.
“The presentence report and counsel submissions gave me some sense of optimism for this man,” Judge Richard Miller said.
Ryan Jarrett Fairhurst, 31, pleaded guilty in December to five counts of fraud. He was sentenced Friday in B.C. provincial court in Surrey.
In December 2011, Fairhurst became involved with an established fraud ring that was being run out of a house in Whalley.
The scheme involved taking welfare cheques — particularly crisis welfare cheques issued in emergencies to cover necessities such as food — and altering the amounts and recipients, then using frontmen to cash them at banks or cash stores. The welfare recipient, the forger and the frontman would then split the money.
Over a period of about six months, Fairhurst cashed three of his own cheques with altered amounts and nine that had been made out to other people and then had the payee and amount altered. According to Fairhurst, he was initially a willing participant in the scheme, however, after he cashed the first three cheques he was coerced into continuing with the frauds.
Fairhurst told investigators that when he tried to extricate himself from the fraud ring, he was assaulted and the tip of his right index finger was cut off to the first knuckle.
Fairhurst also was addicted to heroin and it’s believed he got drugs from the people in the house. He used the money he was paid to support his addiction. Fairhurst has since entered treatment and has been clean for five months.
Conditions on Fairhurst’s sentence include a 6 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, participating in psychological assessments or counselling as directed and completing 100 hours of community service.
Fairhurst also must pay back $10,870.08, divided between Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, Royal Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust and the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation. He also will pay a $500 victim fine surcharge.
Four other men have already been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced in connection with the scheme since January 2012. They were also frontmen who cashed altered cheques.
The police investigation into the fraud ring is ongoing.