A 36-year-old woman from Lower Montague who defrauded Active Communities Inc. of more than $115,000 to finance her addiction to online poker received a conditional jail sentence of 15 months Monday in P.E.I. Supreme Court.
The sentence, to be served in the community under house arrest, was imposed in the case of Mary Jeannine Condon.
Condon received a second conditional sentence of 15 months, to be served concurrently, for uttering forged documents in connection with the first offence.
She received a further conditional sentence of seven months for defrauding P.E.I. Allied Youth of $5,405.91.
That sentence was made consecutive to the first conditional sentence, extending the total
conditional sentence to 22 months.
Condon also received a seven-month conditional sentence, to be served concurrently with the previous sentence, for uttering forged documents in connection with the theft from P.E.I. Allied Youth.
In imposing these conditional sentences, Supreme Court Justice Wayne Cheverie laid out strict conditions Condon must follow.
While under house arrest, she is permitted to leave her residence only to work, to attend medical or dental appointments or to attend church services.
She may only leave her residence for reasons other than those specified above with the approval of the person supervising her conditional sentence.
At all other times she must remain in her residence.
Visits to her residence are restricted to family members only.
At no time is she to have access to a computer or the Internet.
Upon completion of her conditional sentence Condon will spend the next two years on probation.
While on probation she must undergo assessment, counselling and treatment, if necessary, for her gambling addiction or any other underlying issues identified by her probation officer.
She must make restitution of $116,503.25 to Active Communities Inc. and $5,405.91 to P.E.I. Allied Youth.
Cheverie has also ordered Condon to perform 240 hours of community service work. Victims of crime surcharges of $400 were also imposed.
In passing sentence, Cheverie said he believes Condon is truly remorseful for her actions and accepts responsibility for what she has done.
Speaking to the court, Condon said she was remorseful, accepted full responsibility for what she had done and understands the impact her actions had on her former employers, her co-workers, her family and her friends.
The money Condon defrauded from Active Communities Inc., a non-profit corporation that provides financial, administrative and consulting services to individuals, corporations and communities in Eastern P.E.I., was taken between 2001 and 2008.
At that time she was responsible for recording income and expenses in the general and subsidiary ledgers, payroll, issuing cheques, reconciling bank statements and bank deposits.
An agreed statement of facts filed with the court revealed Condon forged 148 cheques with a total value of $116,503.25.
She deposited the cheques in her personal bank account at the CIBC.
Fake accounting entries were made to cover the missing money.
The first year in which she is alleged to have taken money from her employer, the 2001-2002 fiscal year, Condon forged nine cheques worth $5,748.28.
During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the last year of her employment with the corporation, she forged 52 cheques worth $45,042.49.
The money defrauded from Allied Youth was taken between Sept. 1, 2008, and Feb. 28, 2009, when Condon was employed as the organization's provincial co-ordinator.
The court was told Condon, who turned herself into police and admitted what she'd done, wrote 17 unauthorized cheques to herself and deposited the cheques in her personal bank account at CIBC.
Woman given conditional sentences for defrauding groups of over $120,000
- Published on January 26th, 2010
- Published on June 15th, 2010
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Staff ~ Farm Focus
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Comments
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- To Don't
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:28
She can hold down a full time job...go to church and medical appointments...I wouldn't mind spending most of the summer at home lazing by my pool (If I had one) like she can!
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- Nothing's
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:39:35
Am I the only one who sees a pattern here?
In PEI, white-collar crimes amount to nothing more than a slap on the wrist, but blue-collar crimes amount to having the book thrown at you.
You can defraud someone of hundreds of thousands of dollars and come away smelling like a rose, but if you take an undersized lobster, be prepared for the worst as Mr. Kenny Drake experienced first-hand (a $6,000 fine, loss of his license for a day and his job as president of the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association). All that because he took responsibility for someone on his boat who incorrectly measured a lobster.
The justice system on the Island needs to give its head a shake and start recognizing the seriousness of these white-collar crimes.
This sentence in this case is nothing short of absolutely appalling. It also sets a very poor precedent for future instances of cases were money has been stolen from an employer.
It's also a huge slap in the face to the organizations that Mary Jeannine Condon defrauded. I'm sure that the restitution that she's to make will never be paid off fully, leaving the organizations on the hook.
Absolutely disgusting. -
- Corruption
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:35:19
Decisions like this are totally wrong! The jails are full of the poor while this person gets a conditional sentence! This is what you get when the only requirement for sitting on the bench is being a political hack- like this Judge from the first Ghiz regime. What a total miscarriage of justice. But hey, this is PEI.
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- ???
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:31:38
So if I break into a place and steal something out of someones house theres a good chance I'm getting a trip to sleepy hollow...however this woman can laze around in her pool (which she does have) on house arrest ...something wrong here folks
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- What s
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:27:09
To: don't we all judge quickly, how are the Children going to read this is she can't be around a computer? Ahh I get it the computer stay's in the house and she goes on under someone else's name. Do you support people ripping off their employers and stealing from kids? Ya poor Mary I wouild give her a box of Kleenex but I can't afford it. I make do with the bit of income I get. Maybe she should have tried that. she will go fishing with her husband in the summer and draw high poggie in the winter... poor Mary!! By the way she dosen't have to stay inside work, church, doctors, shopping that is all I do!!!!
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- bob
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:25:51
Disgusted from PEI: why would u feel bad for her family? she never thought of them!
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- IslandGuy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:24:31
To those that have no knowledge of what was actually going on with these charges, get your facts straight. I was involved with one of the mentioned Organizations, and I have to say it is of no fault to the organization that these crimes occured - it could happen anywhere. Mary was very smart about her methods. It is a shame that she is getting away with only House Arrest, and I do truly believe she feels remorse for her actions. But, do I feel bad for her - no. It is horrible that she is putting her family through this, but thats part of the price to pay.
Mary destroyed many friendships during the unfolding of these events, the names of Active Communities and Allied Youth have probably both been tarnished by these actions, and thats too bad.
I am glad that this matter is over, and hopefully Mary can move on with her life. Now the people involved in these matters can breath relief that Mary has been dealt with, and the organizations can continue to move forward with their successes. -
- parent
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:14
You know we have to love this Island when your sick they have a benifit for you when your in trouble they wanna kick you a little harder and when they think your coming up a little they will give you another kick people do you really have to keep judging people the people who are talking today may get it back in their face someday theres no second chance on this island talk all you want im sure this women is going through hell now hope things start coming together for her god bless you and your family
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- Stocked in Kings County
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:18:19
To Derek, You may want to get your facts stright she did not turn herself into police, and she continued to steal after being caught the first time I do not see that as someone who is remorseful I see that as soneone who likes to take advantage of non-profit organizations.
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- bob
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:17:11
she is remorseful only because she was caught. i hardly think that someone that steals from children is capable of remorse. There is no way, unless they sell their waterfront property with the pool, that she will pay back all that money! should have been jail time!
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- What s
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:16:39
I don't get it? Does she really have an online problem or is that the reason to get a lighter sentence. I guess a computer problem sounds better than a drug problem was she tested for that or do the courts just take a persons word for that? The amount of upgrades made to their house kids that go without nothing...She is luckey she is not in the US she more than broke the three strikes rule that is life there, here it's house arrest??? No wonder people take advantage of positions of trust no punishment. Are we just going to keep sending this message to would be thiefs ....an at home vacation with money in your pockets?? I do however feel bad for the children they have to go to school, hockey and whatever else kids can be cruel and the crimes of the mother can reflect these children I hope they are can be strong and friends will stick with them through this.
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- PETR
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:14:02
Are you kidding me? Good luck getting all that money back...people trying to live like the Jones's who steal...52 cheques worth 45042.29? How in the world did she ever land a job at AY???? Who checked her references??
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- Trevor
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:12:03
Derek, please keep us posted on her restitution payments. I for one do not think her victims will see a cent of repayment.
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- To Derek
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:11:14
Co-operative in the investigation...she stole from AY! how low can you get??
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- Disgusted
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:50
This is a joke. But unfortunately the only one probably laughing is Mary. This is not the 1st time this happened in Montague. Just a few years back another mother got a slap on the wrist aka house arrest for stealing from the credit union. Monkey see monkey do???
I truly feel bad for the family that have to face others at this time-especially her two sons. Just remember you didn't do anything. -
- Dont we all judge quickly
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:47
Seems all there is to do is judge this lady here. She may have gotten house arrest...but if any of us tried of had to stay inside that long, WOW. Did she do wrong? She sure did... But we seem to forget this could be our daughter, wife, mother, friend, granddaughter. I know Mary very well as I do know her family too. If you all are so worried about her children, why dont you stop ridiculing her and posting more for them to have to read and carry on their shoulders. If we all cleaned off our own doorsteps first maybe we would think twice about what we write about others. But tomorrow Mary will be old news here and everyone will have someone else to throw stones at. Ahhhhhhhhhh, but arent we all proud Islanders to help here in harming her family and her CHILDREN with the nasty comments they will see.
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- Disgusted
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:47
bob from montague, pei writes: Disgusted from PEI: why would u feel bad for her family? she never thought of them!
The reason I feel bad for her family (NOT her) is they did not do anything wrong, but the shame they have to carry during their day to day activities must be difficult. It's them I wish all the best to, NOT Mary. She is the one that caused this embarrassment to them. -
- Tracey
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:55:24
So really, regardless of what you do, you'll either get house arrest or a slap on the wrist!! Wow...very proud to live here in PEI...NOT!! This is unbelievable.....nothing to be proud of!!!
You can pretty much do as you please here on this lovely Island......steal money, shake the heck out of a baby and basically get no kind of punishment at all!!! Or at least not get the punishment that is deserved!!!! -
- Steve
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:55:11
Seriously, how much money do you gotta steal in this town to get jail time?
Not rhetorical,...how much???? -
- joe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:52:08
Right on,with the current downturn PEI will be a very attractive place to visit for anyone with an addiction.I just wonder if all addicts will be offered the same lay by the pool sentence. What a slap in the face to other addicts and thier families who were scentenced to time off island because their crimes due to crack ect.addictions. Hopefully this judge treat us white trash the same,After the first con job why not seek help?This is the start of New World Order PEI style.
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- disgusted
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:30
This house arrest is getting a little bit old, what ever happened to do the crime do the time.when a person is put in a position of trust and breaches that trust as is the case here, jail time should be the punishment, not the old sob story about addictions.Hopefully this money will be repayed in a timely fashion and not to be forgotten like jail sentences have been!
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- licking my chops
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:22
wow! Someone find out if she plays on Pokerstars, I would like a piece of that action LOL easy money...
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- Thinks this is funny
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:49:40
She stole all this money from two different employers and she is still lying. Turned herself in, that is alot of BS, she was being investigated by Active Communities while she was stealing from Allied Youth. I doubt if all the money was used for online gambling. Living the high life sounds more like it!! Hopefully now she will not judge other people so quickly
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- Hugh
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:49:00
Not only is there a patern of white collar crime getting a slap on the wrist ,and blue collar crime getting jail time . If you are a woman you receive far less punishment then a man. Pitty help the man ACCUSED of committing a crime agianst a woman!!!
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- Wayne Gretzky
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:18
they'll keep their house on the water..with the pool..he'll fish..sell his fish for cash and the money will NEVER be paid back....
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- Phillip
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:44:09
this is ridiculous. How did she demonstrate she learned her lesson?? By getting fired from ACI for stealing, getting a job at Allied Youth and stealing again?? This woman defrauded the Federal Government of over $115k and she gets a slap on the wrist?? How the heck does she pay it back???
The hurt she caused all her former co-workers and friends and kids of AY should be enough to give her a real sentence. -
- Derek
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:46
To Bob and This is funny from Montague.....She did turn herself in and been very cooperative in the investigation.Get your facts straight before you shoot your mouth off.Its people like you guys that need the help.Good luck in your recovery and God bless.
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- gregg
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:28
I think it is time to make some changes of who sits on the bench in our province.
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- Former AY'er
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:12
As a former member of Allied Youth for 8 years, I was shocked to read about this. I took part in a number of roles, during my time with this NON-PROFIT organization, and know first hand the amount of work and dedication that students, parents and voluteers endure to create and maintain this program. For those of you that dont know, AY is a program designed to create awareneness on the effects of drugs and alcohol. It is a tight knit group of people that help each other, lean on each other and grow with each other during some of the most tough times of their teenage years. This program helps kids grow into wonderful adults. To see a person take advantage of such a program was disheartening, so say the least. I am not a person of the law, so to say what Miss Condon derserves is not in my place to do; HOWEVER, I can say that the kids, parents and Volunteers of AY deserved much more that this. AY is a strong group and I have no fears that the program will bounce back from all of this unfortunate history of events.
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- TO nothings shocking
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:44
Mr Drake didn't take a lobster...he took MANY lobsters both undersized and spawn..give your head a shake-plus Mrs Condon has to pay back what she stole..Mr.Drake did not
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- Housewife
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:33:49
Years ago, as a former housewife raising three busy pre-schoolers, I think I was under house arrest, and didn't even know it at the time. I left my home for medical appointments, dental appointments, and groceries (usually dragging three kids who didn't want to be there). The children went to bed at 7 pm, therefore, I stayed home nearly every night. We lived on one income, and lived within our means; we had no extras. Imagine if I had committed the crime this woman did, I would still be at home (house arrest) doing the same stuff I usually did - raising pre-school children, but the difference would be an extra $120,000 floating around in the family's income. No wonder this type of crime is on the rise. I think it is time for jail time for some of these criminals, as they seem to be on the rise on PEI.
