Following a police operation involving wiretapping and document seizures, a dozen employees and managers of a company were charged with carrying out activities of falsified billing. Charges of gangsterism (Sections 467.11, 467.12 and 467.13 of the Criminal Code), of fraud over $ 5,000 (Section 380(1)a) of the Criminal Code) and production of forged documents (Section 367a) of the Criminal Code) were laid among others.
According to the Prosecutors, this fraud meant a total loss of approximately $ 11 million for the government. An employee charged following this operation hired criminal lawyer Xavier Cormier to defend her. She acknowledged her guilt and besides, the evidence was overwhelming.
After negotiations between the defence lawyer and the Crown Prosecutors that spread over a period of about a year, they reached an agreement. The gangsterism charges were dropped and the client rather pleaded guilty to fraud, production of forged documents and conspiracy to commit fraud. Therefore, the lawyers could suggest to the Judge that the prison sentence could be spent in the community, which would not have been possible with the gangsterism charge. The Judge agreed to the parties’ suggestion.
Not all Mr Xavier Cormier’s clients can avoid going to prison. See notice.
