Worker stole $240,000 earmarked to help at-risk women and girls
A former financial manager of the Elizabeth Fry Society in Prince George, B.C is facing jail time for stealing nearly a quarter of a million dollars that was supposed to help vulnerable women and girls.
Rhonda Lee Bailey, also known as Rhonda Lee Camozzi, was sentenced to a two-and-a-half-year jail term after she stole $240,000 over a five-year period from the Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society and its housing society.
There, she was in charge of finances, reported CBC, citing an agreed statement of facts.
Bailey pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000. She's also subject to a restitution order to repay the $240,000.
Recently, a former TD Bank employee was accused of helping illegally move millions of dollars from the U.S. to Colombia.
Money from fraudulent transactions used for personal vacations, hotels
Bailey worked for over 12 years at the Elizabeth Fry Society in Prince George before her crime was discovered in a 2018 financial audit, and she was fired, reported CBC.
According to the report, between 2013 and 2018, Bailey made more than 1,000 “fraudulent transactions” using the non-profit organization's credit cards. In the courtroom at Prince George Provincial Court, she later said she needed the money to "maintain her children's lifestyles."
Bailey used the money to pay for personal vacations, flights, hotels, meals, online shopping, dog kennel fees, Lululemon clothing, and other items.
Bailey used her financial expertise, extensive knowledge of the organization's policies, and position of trust to carry out the crime and keep it hidden for five years, Judge Peter McDermick said, according to the report.
Aggravating factors in the case included the position of trust Bailey held, the magnitude and duration of her crime, the fact that a non-profit organization was targeted, and that a significant number of victims were impacted, said McDermick.
"This is a grave set of circumstances," he said.
Saskatchewan lost thousands of dollars to a number of employee fraud and theft incidents that were reported earlier this year.
