Would-be fraudster discards wig in bid to elude Oak Bay police
Mother placed on probation for 18 months for impersonation, attempted fraud
A would-be fraudster who was nabbed after a foot chase with Oak Bay police has pleaded guilty to impersonation and attempted fraud over $5,000.
B.C. Supreme Justice Brian MacKenzie has granted Marie Gauthier a conditional discharge, placing the 28-year-old single mother on probation for 18 months.
Court heard that on March 19, 2015, Gauthier went to an appointment with a financial officer at the Scotiabank on Oak Bay Avenue to apply for a $20,000 line of credit. She used a forged social insurance card and a forged driver’s licence with her photo on it. Both documents contained the real information of an Ontario woman named Caroline Friesen.
The attempt was foiled when the financial officer became suspicious and confronted Gauthier, trying to detain her by grabbing her purse. The employee also alerted Sgt. Ian Craib, who was in the bank on personal business.
Gauthier bolted, running across Oak Bay Avenue and almost getting hit by a car. Craib gave chase, radioing that he was in the middle of a foot pursuit.
During the chase, Gauthier discarded a wig and some clothing. The 57-year-old officer caught up to the younger Gauthier on Granite Street. He arrested her and confiscated the forged documents.
MacKenzie agreed with Crown prosecutor Patrick Weir that the crime was planned, premeditated and sophisticated. “Even though the victim would have been the bank, the hardship these activities cause upon innocent civilians cannot be overemphasized,” said MacKenzie, who called fraud and identify theft serious offences.
MacKenzie said he believed Gauthier was unaware she was using Friesen’s real identification and that her actions could cause serious financial problems for Friesen.
Defence lawyer Jordan Watt told the court Gauthier had no prior criminal record and a good employment history and that she may have future employment as a teacher. The offence occurred after a small-business venture failed and Gauthier found herself in dire financial circumstances, he said.
MacKenzie warned Gauthier that if she breaches any of her probation conditions or commits another offence, the conditional discharge can be revoked and the court could impose a jail sentence.
MacKenzie ordered Gauthier to perform 100 hours of community service and to write a letter of apology to Friesen. Gauthier was also ordered to forfeit $2,000 cash found in her purse at the time of her arrest. The court gave no explanation for that money.
Gauthier must take life-skills counselling and is forbidden from possessing identification documents that belong to other people. She must provide authorities with a sample of her DNA and pay the victim fine surcharge within six months.