A long-time St. Albert resident and business partner in DKC Janitorial, was sent to jail last week for taking nearly $72,000 from company coffers via fraudulent cheques.
Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton sentenced Terry Lee Dmytar, 58, to seven months in jail on April 1, followed by 18 months probation for uttering forged documents totalling $71,499.
Over a nearly five-year period between 2008 and 2013, Dmytar signed some 55 cheques with the name of her business partner, Mike Howes, to take the funds from DKC Janitorial.
Howes, who also owns Sparklean Restorations and Sparklean Carpet and Upholstery, said he didn’t notice the money was slowly being syphoned from the business until late in 2012.
After an internal forensic audit that uncovered a string of improperly signed cheques and expense claims, Howes said he turned his partner and findings over to police.
In sentencing, Court told Dmytar that her actions constituted a complete breach of trust. Conditions of probation following jail time include mandated treatment for gambling addiction, and a lifelong ban from gambling establishments.
Dmytar, who remains a shareholder in DKC Janitorial, also faces charges in civil court, where Howe is seeking more than $260,000 in compensation.
