Stealing from multiple employers last year has landed a St. Albert woman behind bars for two years.
Carola Lynn Cameron, 47, admitted in St. Albert Provincial Court Monday to stealing roughly $138,000 from three employers in 2011.
She appeared in court via closed-circuit television from the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre and could be heard crying and seen wiping tears from her eyes throughout the proceedings.
“She made a stupid mistake and admits that,” said lawyer Traci Overacker.
Cameron stole $122,451.73 from the Tudor Glen McDonald’s during a three-month period starting Jan. 1, 2011. She was in charge of making bank deposits, but instead pocketed the cash.
A similar event happened a few months later at a Morinville Kentucky Fried Chicken, where Cameron pocketed $9,082.29 in a 10-day period in July.
A rural business owner was scammed by Cameron in October, when she deposited two cheques – valued at $3,400 and $2,800 – and subsequently transferred the money, to later learn both cheques bounced. The bank ordered the victim to repay the funds.
“I had been a business pioneer in a rural town for 14 years,” the victim said in an impact statement. “We were unable to recover and closed six months later.”
Crown prosecutor John Donahoe said a two-year sentence in a federal prison was a fit and proper sentence.
“I think Ms. Cameron … needs to know just the effects this has,” he said. “There’s big boys in the game, but there’s small people in there as well.”
He added Cameron has an extensive and related record under several aliases, with charges in Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan and Richmond, B.C.
Overacker said Cameron was faced with significant debt after her partner died of cancer the year prior.
“She didn’t know what she was going to do to save her house,” Overacker said, adding Cameron was also struggling to deal with the grief of her wife’s death.
She has since lost her job, home and a relationship with her stepdaughter.
“I’m sorry,” Cameron said to the court.
Donahoe ordered three compensation orders each in the amount stolen. He withdrew remaining charges for fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, failing to attend court and breaching release conditions.
Cameron was given a 21-day sentence for failing to appear in court but was given credit for 21-days spent in pre-sentence custody.
